Thursday, December 3, 2015
3:41:00 PM
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2:32:00 PM
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Four months ago, Demeteriya Nabire was killed by a crocodile when she
went to the lake near her home to fetch water. The animal later came
back to the area but found Nabire’s husband waiting, ready to take
revenge. Demeteriya Nabire was at the water’s edge with a group of women
from her village – they were gathering water from Uganda’s Lake Kyoga
when the crocodile grabbed her. It dragged her away and she was never
seen again.
Her
husband, Mubarak Batambuze, was devastated – Nabire was pregnant when
she died, and he had lost not only his wife but an unborn child as well.
He felt powerless. But then last month he heard the crocodile had
returned. “Somebody called me and said, ‘Mubarak, I have news for you –
the crocodile that took your wife is here – we are looking at it now.’”
The 50-year-old fisherman made his way to the lake with some friends. “He was a very big monster, and we tried fighting him with stones and sticks. But there was nothing we could do,” he says.
So Batambuze went to visit the local blacksmith.“I explained to him that I was fighting a beast that had snatched and killed my wife and unborn baby. I really wanted my revenge, and asked the blacksmith to make me a spear that could kill the crocodile dead. “The Blacksmith asked me for £3.20 ($5) and made the spear for me,” he says. It was a significant amount of money for Batambuze, but he was determined to kill the animal that had snatched his future.
“The crocodile ate my wife entirely. Nothing was ever seen of her again – no clothes, no part of her body that I could identify. I just didn’t know what to do – a mother and her unborn child. It was the end of my world. I was completely lost.” Armed with his new spear – specially designed with a barb on one side – the widower went on the attack.
When he got to the water the crocodile was still there, but Batambuze’s friends took fright. “Please don’t attack this beast,” they pleaded, “it’s so huge it may eat you. The spear is not enough – it won’t finish the job.” But Batambuze insisted they stay. “I failed killing it the first time around,” he told them, “I’m not bothered if I die killing this beast. I’m going to take it on with this spear, and I will make sure that it dies.”
A Ugandan Wildlife Authority ranger, Oswald Tumanya, says the crocodile was more than four metres long and weighed about 600kg. “I had so much fear in me but what helped me to succeed was the spear,” says Batambuze. He tied a rope to the end of the weapon so that once the tip was embedded in the crocodile, he could pull it out at an angle and the barb would cut into more of the animal’s flesh.
“I put the spear into the crocodile’s side, and while my friends were helping to throw stones at the beast’s back, it tried getting its mouth up to attack me again. “It turned violent, and then there was so much fear in the place. But I was so determined, and I wasn’t afraid of dying. I just wanted it dead, so I put the spear in its side and I pulled the rope. That got the crocodile into trouble.”
It took an hour and a half for Batambuze and his friends, fighting and retreating, exchanging attacks with the enraged animal, before the crocodile was finally dead. Exhausted, they made their way back to their village. “There was so much shock. What really surprised everybody was how big the beast was. It wasn’t an ordinary crocodile. It was so big. And people called me and my friends heroes,” he says.
The dead animal was taken to Makarere University in Kampala, where it was examined by a vet, Wilfred Emneku. He says a tibia bone was found inside the crocodile’s stomach, but while he believes it’s human he can’t be sure. A crocodile expert at Charles Darwin University in Australia, Adam Britton, says he would be very surprised if any remains inside the animal’s stomach were those of Demeteriya Nabire.
“After 12 weeks… under normal conditions, it would be highly improbable for bones from the same meal to remain in the stomach,” he says. So while Batambuze’s celebrity status endures in his village, it is unlikely that he will ever have a grave to mourn at. “Within myself I’m a very depressed man because I lost a wife and an unborn child,” he explains.
“But the locals keep on saying, ‘Thank you for killing the beast, that’s where we fetch water and we’re sure it would have taken somebody else. Thank you so much, you did a great job.’” “So I’m a local hero – people keep on thanking me.”
Her
husband, Mubarak Batambuze, was devastated – Nabire was pregnant when
she died, and he had lost not only his wife but an unborn child as well.
He felt powerless. But then last month he heard the crocodile had
returned. “Somebody called me and said, ‘Mubarak, I have news for you –
the crocodile that took your wife is here – we are looking at it now.’”The 50-year-old fisherman made his way to the lake with some friends. “He was a very big monster, and we tried fighting him with stones and sticks. But there was nothing we could do,” he says.
So Batambuze went to visit the local blacksmith.“I explained to him that I was fighting a beast that had snatched and killed my wife and unborn baby. I really wanted my revenge, and asked the blacksmith to make me a spear that could kill the crocodile dead. “The Blacksmith asked me for £3.20 ($5) and made the spear for me,” he says. It was a significant amount of money for Batambuze, but he was determined to kill the animal that had snatched his future.
“The crocodile ate my wife entirely. Nothing was ever seen of her again – no clothes, no part of her body that I could identify. I just didn’t know what to do – a mother and her unborn child. It was the end of my world. I was completely lost.” Armed with his new spear – specially designed with a barb on one side – the widower went on the attack.
When he got to the water the crocodile was still there, but Batambuze’s friends took fright. “Please don’t attack this beast,” they pleaded, “it’s so huge it may eat you. The spear is not enough – it won’t finish the job.” But Batambuze insisted they stay. “I failed killing it the first time around,” he told them, “I’m not bothered if I die killing this beast. I’m going to take it on with this spear, and I will make sure that it dies.”
A Ugandan Wildlife Authority ranger, Oswald Tumanya, says the crocodile was more than four metres long and weighed about 600kg. “I had so much fear in me but what helped me to succeed was the spear,” says Batambuze. He tied a rope to the end of the weapon so that once the tip was embedded in the crocodile, he could pull it out at an angle and the barb would cut into more of the animal’s flesh.
“I put the spear into the crocodile’s side, and while my friends were helping to throw stones at the beast’s back, it tried getting its mouth up to attack me again. “It turned violent, and then there was so much fear in the place. But I was so determined, and I wasn’t afraid of dying. I just wanted it dead, so I put the spear in its side and I pulled the rope. That got the crocodile into trouble.”
It took an hour and a half for Batambuze and his friends, fighting and retreating, exchanging attacks with the enraged animal, before the crocodile was finally dead. Exhausted, they made their way back to their village. “There was so much shock. What really surprised everybody was how big the beast was. It wasn’t an ordinary crocodile. It was so big. And people called me and my friends heroes,” he says.
The dead animal was taken to Makarere University in Kampala, where it was examined by a vet, Wilfred Emneku. He says a tibia bone was found inside the crocodile’s stomach, but while he believes it’s human he can’t be sure. A crocodile expert at Charles Darwin University in Australia, Adam Britton, says he would be very surprised if any remains inside the animal’s stomach were those of Demeteriya Nabire.
“After 12 weeks… under normal conditions, it would be highly improbable for bones from the same meal to remain in the stomach,” he says. So while Batambuze’s celebrity status endures in his village, it is unlikely that he will ever have a grave to mourn at. “Within myself I’m a very depressed man because I lost a wife and an unborn child,” he explains.
“But the locals keep on saying, ‘Thank you for killing the beast, that’s where we fetch water and we’re sure it would have taken somebody else. Thank you so much, you did a great job.’” “So I’m a local hero – people keep on thanking me.”
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2:31:00 PM
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Forty-five years after a brutal civil war, Nigeria is facing a new
wave of protests for a separate Biafran state, driven by long-standing
complaints about poverty, neglect and injustice.
The impetus for the current agitation is not much different from that which led to Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s unilateral declaration of a Republic of Biafra in 1967.
The then-military governor of Nigeria’s old eastern region accused the federal government of marginalising and killing thousands of ethnic Igbos living in the north.
Some one million people died during the brutal 1967-70 conflict that followed, mainly from disease and starvation. The past few weeks have seen protests across the southeast where the Igbos are in the majority, following the arrest last month of Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu.
He is now facing charges of criminal conspiracy and membership of an illegal organisation.
Carrying Kanu’s portrait, the Biafran flag and chanting freedom songs, the protesters called for his release and a separate state. One slogan read “Biafra or death”.
– Splinter group –
Kanu, who heads the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) group, has emerged as the new face of the Biafra struggle.
It was previously championed by the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), formed in 1999 by Ralph Uwazurike.
But internal wranglings split MASSOB and a faction led by Uchenna Madu, its former spokesman, is now working with Kanu’s IPOB group.
Madu said the protesters had planned a symbolic blockade of the Niger bridge in Onitsha this week but the idea was shelved after warnings from the security services.
The strategic bridge linking Igboland with the rest of Nigeria was a key battleground during the civil war and the de facto border.
“There would have been no movement of vehicles on the bridge because we had planned a seven-day vigil to force the government to release Kanu and for Nigeria to give us freedom,” he told AFP.
Anayochukwu Okpara, the IPOB coordinator in Abia state’s commercial hub, Aba, said intimidation, harassment, arrest and detention would not stop the struggle.
“We will step up non-violent campaigns to demand freedom from Nigeria. We are Biafrans. This forced marriage should be dissolved,” he said.
– Opposing views –
The Nigerian army has vowed to “suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authority to restore order when called upon to do so”, stoking fears of a backlash and unrest.
Southeast governors have condemned the mass protests, questioning why the pro-Biafra campaign has re-emerged with a new government in place under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Certainly, longstanding suspicions of northerners like Buhari play a part, after anti-Igbo attacks in the Muslim-majority north in the 1960s.
But not everyone agrees with the renewed push for a homeland. Chuks Ibegbu, of the Igbo Information Network lobby group, said the current agitation would not serve the cause.
“We can no longer pretend that all is well when some groups capitalise on our sad experience of the past to try to railroad us into fighting another avoidable civil war,” he added.
Patrick Odife, a 60-year-old textile trader in Onitsha, said “the Biafra flame is burning again because nothing has changed since the civil war”.
“The younger generation of Ndigbo (Igbos) are bitter about the structure of Nigeria,” he added.
“They believe that the structure is skewed against them, in politics, in education, in the provision of social infrastructure.”
– Years of neglect –
Most of those involved in the protests weren’t even born during the civil war but resentment has passed down generations.
“The southeast has been neglected by successive governments in Nigeria in the area of good roads, hospitals, seaports and jobs,” said campaigner Chukwuemeka Ezeobika.
Many Igbos were forced to abandon their properties in Nigeria during civil war and have not been able to recover them, making many feel “like a defeated people”, he added.
“The slogan ‘No victor, no vanquished’, declared by Nigerian head of state General Yakubu Gowon after the war, is a myth,” he said.
“Even the three Rs — Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration — introduced to heal the wounds of the war has not been faithfully implemented.”
In Aba, businessman Ndubusi Ikemefuna called for the government to treat everyone fairly, irrespective of tribe, religion and social status — and had a stark warning if that failed.
“The lingering Boko Haram insurgency will be a child’s play compared to the scale of ethnic violence that will consume Nigeria unless the right thing is done for all,” he said.
The impetus for the current agitation is not much different from that which led to Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s unilateral declaration of a Republic of Biafra in 1967.
The then-military governor of Nigeria’s old eastern region accused the federal government of marginalising and killing thousands of ethnic Igbos living in the north.
The
Indigenous People of Biafra on a Peaceful Protest over the Arrest of
the Director of Radio Biafra yesterday along Ikwerre road in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
Some one million people died during the brutal 1967-70 conflict that followed, mainly from disease and starvation. The past few weeks have seen protests across the southeast where the Igbos are in the majority, following the arrest last month of Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu.
He is now facing charges of criminal conspiracy and membership of an illegal organisation.
Carrying Kanu’s portrait, the Biafran flag and chanting freedom songs, the protesters called for his release and a separate state. One slogan read “Biafra or death”.
– Splinter group –
Kanu, who heads the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) group, has emerged as the new face of the Biafra struggle.
It was previously championed by the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), formed in 1999 by Ralph Uwazurike.
But internal wranglings split MASSOB and a faction led by Uchenna Madu, its former spokesman, is now working with Kanu’s IPOB group.
Madu said the protesters had planned a symbolic blockade of the Niger bridge in Onitsha this week but the idea was shelved after warnings from the security services.
The strategic bridge linking Igboland with the rest of Nigeria was a key battleground during the civil war and the de facto border.
“There would have been no movement of vehicles on the bridge because we had planned a seven-day vigil to force the government to release Kanu and for Nigeria to give us freedom,” he told AFP.
Anayochukwu Okpara, the IPOB coordinator in Abia state’s commercial hub, Aba, said intimidation, harassment, arrest and detention would not stop the struggle.
“We will step up non-violent campaigns to demand freedom from Nigeria. We are Biafrans. This forced marriage should be dissolved,” he said.
– Opposing views –
The Nigerian army has vowed to “suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authority to restore order when called upon to do so”, stoking fears of a backlash and unrest.
Southeast governors have condemned the mass protests, questioning why the pro-Biafra campaign has re-emerged with a new government in place under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Certainly, longstanding suspicions of northerners like Buhari play a part, after anti-Igbo attacks in the Muslim-majority north in the 1960s.
But not everyone agrees with the renewed push for a homeland. Chuks Ibegbu, of the Igbo Information Network lobby group, said the current agitation would not serve the cause.
“We can no longer pretend that all is well when some groups capitalise on our sad experience of the past to try to railroad us into fighting another avoidable civil war,” he added.
Patrick Odife, a 60-year-old textile trader in Onitsha, said “the Biafra flame is burning again because nothing has changed since the civil war”.
“The younger generation of Ndigbo (Igbos) are bitter about the structure of Nigeria,” he added.
“They believe that the structure is skewed against them, in politics, in education, in the provision of social infrastructure.”
– Years of neglect –
Most of those involved in the protests weren’t even born during the civil war but resentment has passed down generations.
“The southeast has been neglected by successive governments in Nigeria in the area of good roads, hospitals, seaports and jobs,” said campaigner Chukwuemeka Ezeobika.
Many Igbos were forced to abandon their properties in Nigeria during civil war and have not been able to recover them, making many feel “like a defeated people”, he added.
“The slogan ‘No victor, no vanquished’, declared by Nigerian head of state General Yakubu Gowon after the war, is a myth,” he said.
“Even the three Rs — Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration — introduced to heal the wounds of the war has not been faithfully implemented.”
In Aba, businessman Ndubusi Ikemefuna called for the government to treat everyone fairly, irrespective of tribe, religion and social status — and had a stark warning if that failed.
“The lingering Boko Haram insurgency will be a child’s play compared to the scale of ethnic violence that will consume Nigeria unless the right thing is done for all,” he said.
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2:18:00 PM
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By Dayo Johnson, Akure
The biblical injunction in Jeremiah 17 vs 9 that says “ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked who can know it” is apt in the case of a 30-year-old commercial motorcycle operator, popularly known as Okada rider, Tumi Ayileka, who was alleged to have, despite the plea by a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member (names withheld), that she was three months pregnant, still forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
The
victim had been posted to Ondo State and deployed to Imoru in Ose LGA
for her primary assignment. The alleged rape happened on the route she
had been taking on motor bike since she was deployed to Imoru.
She was said to have left the Corpers Lodge, located at Ifon, the headquarters of Ose LGA at about 630pm for Imoru where she was doing her NYSC. Sunday Vanguard was informed by a police source that the Okada, she boarded, instead of heading for Imoru, a short distance to Ifon, the rider stopped abruptly and diverted into the bush. He was said to have excused himself to obey the call of nature. But the corps member was said to have expressed concern why he had to stop to ease himself in a lonely and busy area.
Suspecting a foul play, she reportedly jumped down from the bike and ran towards the main road but the Okada rider was said to have over-powered her and allegedly dragged her back inside the bush.
The suspect, who claimed he also doubled as a farmer, reportedly forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. The victim was said to have pleaded with the suspect that she was pregnant and she should be spared of the horror of rape but all her pleas were reportedly rebuffed by the suspect.
The source narrated that after having his way, the Okada man left the victim in the bush, jumped on his bike and left. But on a second thought he reportedly went back, picked the victim and took her back to her residence at the Corpers Lodge and sped off’.
The victim, whose clothes were said to have been torn by the suspect, managed to find her way to the police station and lodged a complaint around 11pm. Detectives, according to the source, were sent out to fish out the suspect.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that the detectives later trailed the suspect to his house. He was picked up at No 4, Olisa Street, Imoru and confessed to the crime. The suspect in an interview said: “I do not know what came over me when I raped her.
“ When she was crying that she was pregnant, something told me to stop and leave her alone but another voice said I should finish what I started; that is why I raped her”. Asked if he had done such illicit act before, the suspect said, “No.
This is the first time. “When she stopped me, I did not have the intention but when I started the engine of the motorcycle and I looked at her eyes, I was attracted to her and the thought came to my mind. “That was how I started thinking of how to rape her because she is a beautiful lady.
“I knew that the only way I could rape her was to drive to the bush and pretend I wanted to ease myself.
“It is the devil that pushed me. I want to be forgiven. I won’t do such a thing again. “ I have asked God to forgive me too. If I am released, I will never again in my life rape any girl. The suspect”, who said he is married, pointed out: “I became conscious of what I did after committing the atrocity. It is not my fault. I do not know what came over me. “It was so strong that I could not resist the urge to rape her.
Öndo State Police Command also paraded a 35-year-old suspected secret cult member, Godwin James, of No 13, Isolo Street, Akure for attempting to rape one Damilola Akintake. One battle axe used to threaten the girl was allegedly recovered from the suspect. In a similar development, a 30-year-old suspected member of a secret cult, Soladoye Ige, and his friend, identified as Lekan, allegedly gang raped one Tomiwa in Owo area of the state on Valentine’s Day.
After they had raped the victim, after luring her to Ige’s house, they inscribed, with blade on her laps”, Blue Angel”. Ige allegedly belong to the Eiye Secret Cult, was reportedly initiated in November last year by one Tope and three others.
The suspect was arrested at his No 32, Enete Street, Owo. Ige, according to the police, was a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo while the victim is an Ordinary National Diploma OND student of the institution. He was said to have been eyeing the victim while in the institution but was not bold enough to voice out. An opportunity reportedly came when he saw the victim around his residence and he summoned the courage to voice out his likeness for her.
The victim was subsequently lured into the suspect’s room. On getting to the room, he reportedly met his friend identified as Lekan.
The two friends allegedly raped the victim in turns and thereafter drove her out of the room. The state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said the suspected rapists will be charged to court after preliminary investigations.
The biblical injunction in Jeremiah 17 vs 9 that says “ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked who can know it” is apt in the case of a 30-year-old commercial motorcycle operator, popularly known as Okada rider, Tumi Ayileka, who was alleged to have, despite the plea by a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member (names withheld), that she was three months pregnant, still forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
The
victim had been posted to Ondo State and deployed to Imoru in Ose LGA
for her primary assignment. The alleged rape happened on the route she
had been taking on motor bike since she was deployed to Imoru.She was said to have left the Corpers Lodge, located at Ifon, the headquarters of Ose LGA at about 630pm for Imoru where she was doing her NYSC. Sunday Vanguard was informed by a police source that the Okada, she boarded, instead of heading for Imoru, a short distance to Ifon, the rider stopped abruptly and diverted into the bush. He was said to have excused himself to obey the call of nature. But the corps member was said to have expressed concern why he had to stop to ease himself in a lonely and busy area.
Suspecting a foul play, she reportedly jumped down from the bike and ran towards the main road but the Okada rider was said to have over-powered her and allegedly dragged her back inside the bush.
The suspect, who claimed he also doubled as a farmer, reportedly forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. The victim was said to have pleaded with the suspect that she was pregnant and she should be spared of the horror of rape but all her pleas were reportedly rebuffed by the suspect.
The source narrated that after having his way, the Okada man left the victim in the bush, jumped on his bike and left. But on a second thought he reportedly went back, picked the victim and took her back to her residence at the Corpers Lodge and sped off’.
The victim, whose clothes were said to have been torn by the suspect, managed to find her way to the police station and lodged a complaint around 11pm. Detectives, according to the source, were sent out to fish out the suspect.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that the detectives later trailed the suspect to his house. He was picked up at No 4, Olisa Street, Imoru and confessed to the crime. The suspect in an interview said: “I do not know what came over me when I raped her.
“ When she was crying that she was pregnant, something told me to stop and leave her alone but another voice said I should finish what I started; that is why I raped her”. Asked if he had done such illicit act before, the suspect said, “No.
This is the first time. “When she stopped me, I did not have the intention but when I started the engine of the motorcycle and I looked at her eyes, I was attracted to her and the thought came to my mind. “That was how I started thinking of how to rape her because she is a beautiful lady.
“I knew that the only way I could rape her was to drive to the bush and pretend I wanted to ease myself.
“It is the devil that pushed me. I want to be forgiven. I won’t do such a thing again. “ I have asked God to forgive me too. If I am released, I will never again in my life rape any girl. The suspect”, who said he is married, pointed out: “I became conscious of what I did after committing the atrocity. It is not my fault. I do not know what came over me. “It was so strong that I could not resist the urge to rape her.
Öndo State Police Command also paraded a 35-year-old suspected secret cult member, Godwin James, of No 13, Isolo Street, Akure for attempting to rape one Damilola Akintake. One battle axe used to threaten the girl was allegedly recovered from the suspect. In a similar development, a 30-year-old suspected member of a secret cult, Soladoye Ige, and his friend, identified as Lekan, allegedly gang raped one Tomiwa in Owo area of the state on Valentine’s Day.
After they had raped the victim, after luring her to Ige’s house, they inscribed, with blade on her laps”, Blue Angel”. Ige allegedly belong to the Eiye Secret Cult, was reportedly initiated in November last year by one Tope and three others.
The suspect was arrested at his No 32, Enete Street, Owo. Ige, according to the police, was a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo while the victim is an Ordinary National Diploma OND student of the institution. He was said to have been eyeing the victim while in the institution but was not bold enough to voice out. An opportunity reportedly came when he saw the victim around his residence and he summoned the courage to voice out his likeness for her.
The victim was subsequently lured into the suspect’s room. On getting to the room, he reportedly met his friend identified as Lekan.
The two friends allegedly raped the victim in turns and thereafter drove her out of the room. The state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said the suspected rapists will be charged to court after preliminary investigations.
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2:17:00 PM
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By SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN-CITY
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been on the hot seat since his party emerged as the ruling party in Nigeria. Seeing the former Permanent Secretary, last week, at his residence in GRA, Benin-City, you will behold a troubled man. He bared his mind on the leadership crisis in the National Assembly.
According to him, those accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of being slow are unfair. Oyegun also spoke on other national issues. Excerpts:
People are complaining that this APC government is slow. What is happening?
No, I don’t think the government is slow. Like I always say, we are not talking of 16 years, we are talking of over 50 years. Since independence, this country has been ruled by the same tendencies. So, it is good to go with deliberate speed, deliberate steps, make as few mistakes as you can in the appointment that will come. So, I think that process is nearing the end now. As you can see, appointments are being rolled out, the activities people thought were slow are taking place, even the implementation of some aspects of the program of the party that we promised are already underway.
I think all that is left now is the list of the ministerial
appointees and it will come out anytime from now and we will be up and
running. So, there is the need for us to be cautious, given the fact
that this is our first experience in governance. There is the need to be
careful given a totally different nature of our manifesto and the
social welfare promises that were made to the people to be sure that
those the president wants to bring in to execute these policies, which
are dramatically different from anything we have experienced before, are
also dramatically different, they understand what is required to be
done, are passionate about what is required to be done and have ideas
about what is required to be done. Once prime appointments are settled,
things will move. The issue of insecurity is being addressed, the war
on corruption has started in various parastatals; the government is
already very well on steam.
Are we going to see technocrats or politicians in the cabinet?
It will be a mixture of technocrats and politicians. There are politicians who are technocrats, we seem to forget that, but it will be a fair mix.
The leadership of the party is yet to the come to the reality of the emergence of Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara. How long will it take to come to the reality and stay with the fact?
I think the reality is there. I don’t think there is any leader who doesn’t realize that Hon. Dogara and Senate President Saraki are a reality and facts of life, but there is also no leader in the party that doesn’t recognize that this went against the basic position of the party and that has created problems.
The issues border on discipline, supremacy of the party and the rest of it. We are hammering on indiscipline and, at the same time, creating an environment that everybody within the party will find comfortable to work with. I hope, by the end of this last week, we would have arrived at some workable arrangements to put these issues behind us, but it has attracted this attention because, so to speak, it was the only subject in town. Now there are other issues that are beginning to engage the media and we will get a little bit less attention to what is going on in the National Assembly.
Lack of appointments for the South-East and South-South
Why does the public think that if you appoint three people it must be balanced when, in fact you are just at the elementary stage of appointments? They should hold their breath for a little time to come. The ministerial list has not come, the chairmanship of boards has not come, there are so many first rate appointments that are still coming down the line, the ones that has happened are more or less specialized, they are more or less appointments that have some degree of severity governance around them. If you talk about the security agencies, you must pay due attention to the requirement of this time, the reality of the security situation in the country.
So it is unfair to make three appointments, everybody expects to see one from A, one from B, one from C; no, it is the total package. It is when the total package is presented that you will now start looking at who is in what ministry, the status of the ministry and the caliber of the ministry. It is then you can really now make a fair assessment. It is still too early and the appointments we have made now are too specialized for us to jump to that kind of conclusion.
Talk about Nigeria going into dictatorship/strangulating PDP
Well, I will need to see one example. We don’t have time for them (PDP) yet, all that we are doing today is to put ourselves on the ground, put the government in place so that we can start responding to the yearnings of the Nigerian people. PDP hasn’t put itself together yet, so they are no source of concern to anybody. I don’t know what they have to cite to substantiate that issue and I can’t think of any.
Read full story on Sunday Vanguard
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been on the hot seat since his party emerged as the ruling party in Nigeria. Seeing the former Permanent Secretary, last week, at his residence in GRA, Benin-City, you will behold a troubled man. He bared his mind on the leadership crisis in the National Assembly.
According to him, those accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of being slow are unfair. Oyegun also spoke on other national issues. Excerpts:
People are complaining that this APC government is slow. What is happening?
No, I don’t think the government is slow. Like I always say, we are not talking of 16 years, we are talking of over 50 years. Since independence, this country has been ruled by the same tendencies. So, it is good to go with deliberate speed, deliberate steps, make as few mistakes as you can in the appointment that will come. So, I think that process is nearing the end now. As you can see, appointments are being rolled out, the activities people thought were slow are taking place, even the implementation of some aspects of the program of the party that we promised are already underway.
•Oyegun and Buhari
Are we going to see technocrats or politicians in the cabinet?
It will be a mixture of technocrats and politicians. There are politicians who are technocrats, we seem to forget that, but it will be a fair mix.
The leadership of the party is yet to the come to the reality of the emergence of Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara. How long will it take to come to the reality and stay with the fact?
I think the reality is there. I don’t think there is any leader who doesn’t realize that Hon. Dogara and Senate President Saraki are a reality and facts of life, but there is also no leader in the party that doesn’t recognize that this went against the basic position of the party and that has created problems.
The issues border on discipline, supremacy of the party and the rest of it. We are hammering on indiscipline and, at the same time, creating an environment that everybody within the party will find comfortable to work with. I hope, by the end of this last week, we would have arrived at some workable arrangements to put these issues behind us, but it has attracted this attention because, so to speak, it was the only subject in town. Now there are other issues that are beginning to engage the media and we will get a little bit less attention to what is going on in the National Assembly.
Lack of appointments for the South-East and South-South
Why does the public think that if you appoint three people it must be balanced when, in fact you are just at the elementary stage of appointments? They should hold their breath for a little time to come. The ministerial list has not come, the chairmanship of boards has not come, there are so many first rate appointments that are still coming down the line, the ones that has happened are more or less specialized, they are more or less appointments that have some degree of severity governance around them. If you talk about the security agencies, you must pay due attention to the requirement of this time, the reality of the security situation in the country.
So it is unfair to make three appointments, everybody expects to see one from A, one from B, one from C; no, it is the total package. It is when the total package is presented that you will now start looking at who is in what ministry, the status of the ministry and the caliber of the ministry. It is then you can really now make a fair assessment. It is still too early and the appointments we have made now are too specialized for us to jump to that kind of conclusion.
Talk about Nigeria going into dictatorship/strangulating PDP
Well, I will need to see one example. We don’t have time for them (PDP) yet, all that we are doing today is to put ourselves on the ground, put the government in place so that we can start responding to the yearnings of the Nigerian people. PDP hasn’t put itself together yet, so they are no source of concern to anybody. I don’t know what they have to cite to substantiate that issue and I can’t think of any.
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By Emmanuel Edukugho
Female genital mutilation, ranging from the cutting off of the clitoris to the removal of the entire genitalia carried out from the youngest babies to teenagers has become a serious global public health and human rights issue.
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that over 125 million women
have been mutilated in 29 countries in Africa and Middle East, while
condemning the practice as a “violation of the human rights of women”.
United Nations Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon, recently, in Nairobi, Kenya, launched a global campaign to end the deadly practice saying, “the mutilation of girls and women must stop in this generation, our generation”
In this interview with Dr. Adedoyin Ogunyemi, a public health expert who leads an advocacy group in Nigeria committed to stopping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), talks about it, the extent the practice is ravaging our country and how to tackle the problem and restore the dignity and respect of our girl children. She is of the Royal Hospital, Ojodu, Lagos.
What is female genital mutilation (FGM)?
Female genitalmutilation is actually female circumcision which is a harmful practice carried out in most African countries and the Middle East – Yemen was recently included.
The practice involves total or partial removal of some or all the female external genitalia or genital reproductive organs, for cultural, non-medical reasons, causing injury to the female organs. In the circumcision, the glands and clitoris, the vaginal tips are cut off. It’s no longer circumcision, but mutilated. We see the practice as violation of human rights of women. They ought be free from discrimination, coercion. It is violence considering the injury, both physical and psychological, beyond public health issue.
Explain the types of FGM?
There are various types of FGM. Type 1 is the removal or excision (cutting off) of the prepuce, the glands and part of or all of the clitoris – sensitive part of the vagina, the outer lips. Type 2, removal of the whole clitoris and the partial or total excision of the labia minora.
Type 3, cutting off or excision of the external genitalia or labia majora, that is removing all the clitoris and the vaginal tips, stitching, or narrowing of the vaginal openings, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstruation to pass through. Type 4, piercing or incision of the clitoris or the labia stretching of the clitoris and or the labia or burning the clitoris and surrounding tissues and the vagina opening. Then, there is the introduction of corrosive substance or herbs into the vagina which can cause bleeding and narrowing and tightening of the vagina.
Are there health consequences involved in these types of mutilations? Can you specify the consequences?
Yes, there are short and long term health consequences. The short term ones include severe pains (no anaesthetic or pain killing drugs administered), bleeding, anaemia, low blood level due to bleeding, infection like tetanus, hepatitis B, HIV, AIDS, etc. There will be urinary retention because urine stays back. Haemorrhage or severe bleeding during circumcision could lead to even death.
The long term health consequences include abcess, painful cyst, scars, keloid, painful sexual intercourse, difficult pregnancy and child birth, obstructed labour, narrow vagina, tightening makes labour very difficult and therefore resort to caesarian section, retention of menstrual fluid as blood can’t flow, eclampsia, hypertension, unsafe abortion, higher post partum.
Infertility could occur and the women may not know – because there is no where for the menstruation to come out. There can be “still births” as babies can die, before the time of delivery.
There are also psychological consequences which include low self-esteem, poor concentration in school while bleeding can cause death.
Can we know, from your findings, the reasons for female circumcision?
The reasons are mostly socio – cultural. No religious undertone, but spiritual purity may be adduced for the practice. You also have the need to preserve virginity, cultural identity, sense of pride of the coming of age, passage from being a girl to womanhood, to prevent promiscuity, sexual escapades by teenage girls. But it may rebound as fear of sexual intercourse could lead to frigidity and unwillingness to respond to lovemaking. Reasons vary according to different ethnic beliefs.
What is the prevalence rate of FGM in Nigeria?
About 30% of our women have been cut. It should be zero. I can recall that some years ago when the late First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo attended a women’s conference held in a foreign country, she advocated zero tolerance for FGM and a day to be set aside by the UN to mark it around the world. I think it was 6th February that was fixed and being observed worldwide.
FGM is both a public health issue and also human rights. It must be dealt with. It is harmful. Nigeria has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world – 576 per 100,000 which is 13% of the global maternal mortality rate. If female circumcision is adequately tackled,it can reduce maternal mortality rate in this country. Public health issues should be dealt with beyond building of hospitals and magnificent medical facilities.
Female circumcision is carried out on babies from age of infancy, 2, 5 years to teenagers, particularly in babies to reduce the horror of the pains.
Currently, some states in Nigeria such as Ekiti, Abia, Ondo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Cross River and Edo have laws prohibiting female genital cutting. Many others are yet to enact laws prohibiting FMG, allowing it without noise done to kids and babies because it heals faster on babies, with less trauma. There is no singular federal legislation against FGM at the moment. The problem is still there. Provision of clean water for the public will help combat many diseases.
You lead an advocacy group – Healthmark Consult, a public health organisation. How are you tackling FGM?
There should be more media campaign and enlightenment on this harmful practice. Media involvement is lacking. Many people are not aware of the health consequences of FGM.
Girl, children or women should not be circumcised at all in the first place, unlike boys who need to cut off the prepuce or tissue on the outer tip of the penis. It must be removed for boys – for medical reason. More information and education on harmful effects of female circumcision on health of the girl or woman is needed across thecountry. It is not over yet.
For girls, there are other alternatives to FGM. Chastity rings, bangles can be worn to signify their virginity and readiness for marriage. Government must do more to reduce poverty, inequality; ensure gender balancing in education; discourage early marriage for girls; enhance access to education and health services, female empowerment. We need a mechanism to ensure community dialogue involving men, women, boys, girls, old and young.
We need to ban early marriages, encourage people to speak out-men and boys. Why should a girl be cut! Unfortunately, FGM is about women against women. We should speak to female circumcisers who do this work, provide alternatives like offering them loans to trade or acquire vocational skills. Let’s try focused group discussion capable of having snowballing effect – one to another. Medicalisation of FGM may seem proper, but what is bad is bad. Female circumcisers are found in several villages across the country. These are women themselves engaged to cut off female sex organs.
Why are we not getting experts’ statistics, figures on FGM and survivors or victims to speak?
Many things are expected to be done, but not done. It used to be 41% but dropped to 19%. It will keep falling until people speak out. Speaking out can get FGM to zero level.
Systematic random sampling may be difficult to get, even what we get is a tip of the ice berg. It could be more. If we have improved social justice, people can speak up and be heard. Legislation had been slow and slack without lobby. More of peer activities, peer education, multi-pronged approach are required. If a public health issue like this is not problemised, we cannot get it done. Survivors and victims of FGM can’t speak for fear of stigmatisation.
According to the Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, done every five years, one in four women, aged between 15 – 49 years has been circumcised.
In the 2013 survey, Osun State has the highest with 77%, Ebonyi 74%, Ekiti 72%, while Katsina had lowest 0.1%.
On the prevalence rate, South-West is 47.5%, South-East 49%, South-South 25.8%, North-West 20.7%, North-Central 9.9%, North-East 2.9%.
Among ethnic groups, Yoruba have the highest with 55%, Igbo 45%, Hausa 19%, Ijaw 13% and Fulani 13%.FGM is highest among daughters of circumcised women. Elite women with good jobs, professionals in various fields of endeavour are not left out, but female circumcision is done in secret, no noise. Many parents are cutting the genitals of their daughters secretly especially in the rural areas which can be stopped, not only by legislation but also through persuasion, community enlightenment, family and peer discussion. The campaign against FGM should go down to the grassroots where this deadly practice is still rampant.
Female genital mutilation, ranging from the cutting off of the clitoris to the removal of the entire genitalia carried out from the youngest babies to teenagers has become a serious global public health and human rights issue.
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that over 125 million women
have been mutilated in 29 countries in Africa and Middle East, while
condemning the practice as a “violation of the human rights of women”.United Nations Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon, recently, in Nairobi, Kenya, launched a global campaign to end the deadly practice saying, “the mutilation of girls and women must stop in this generation, our generation”
In this interview with Dr. Adedoyin Ogunyemi, a public health expert who leads an advocacy group in Nigeria committed to stopping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), talks about it, the extent the practice is ravaging our country and how to tackle the problem and restore the dignity and respect of our girl children. She is of the Royal Hospital, Ojodu, Lagos.
What is female genital mutilation (FGM)?
Female genitalmutilation is actually female circumcision which is a harmful practice carried out in most African countries and the Middle East – Yemen was recently included.
The practice involves total or partial removal of some or all the female external genitalia or genital reproductive organs, for cultural, non-medical reasons, causing injury to the female organs. In the circumcision, the glands and clitoris, the vaginal tips are cut off. It’s no longer circumcision, but mutilated. We see the practice as violation of human rights of women. They ought be free from discrimination, coercion. It is violence considering the injury, both physical and psychological, beyond public health issue.
Explain the types of FGM?
There are various types of FGM. Type 1 is the removal or excision (cutting off) of the prepuce, the glands and part of or all of the clitoris – sensitive part of the vagina, the outer lips. Type 2, removal of the whole clitoris and the partial or total excision of the labia minora.
Type 3, cutting off or excision of the external genitalia or labia majora, that is removing all the clitoris and the vaginal tips, stitching, or narrowing of the vaginal openings, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstruation to pass through. Type 4, piercing or incision of the clitoris or the labia stretching of the clitoris and or the labia or burning the clitoris and surrounding tissues and the vagina opening. Then, there is the introduction of corrosive substance or herbs into the vagina which can cause bleeding and narrowing and tightening of the vagina.
Are there health consequences involved in these types of mutilations? Can you specify the consequences?
Yes, there are short and long term health consequences. The short term ones include severe pains (no anaesthetic or pain killing drugs administered), bleeding, anaemia, low blood level due to bleeding, infection like tetanus, hepatitis B, HIV, AIDS, etc. There will be urinary retention because urine stays back. Haemorrhage or severe bleeding during circumcision could lead to even death.
The long term health consequences include abcess, painful cyst, scars, keloid, painful sexual intercourse, difficult pregnancy and child birth, obstructed labour, narrow vagina, tightening makes labour very difficult and therefore resort to caesarian section, retention of menstrual fluid as blood can’t flow, eclampsia, hypertension, unsafe abortion, higher post partum.
Infertility could occur and the women may not know – because there is no where for the menstruation to come out. There can be “still births” as babies can die, before the time of delivery.
There are also psychological consequences which include low self-esteem, poor concentration in school while bleeding can cause death.
Can we know, from your findings, the reasons for female circumcision?
The reasons are mostly socio – cultural. No religious undertone, but spiritual purity may be adduced for the practice. You also have the need to preserve virginity, cultural identity, sense of pride of the coming of age, passage from being a girl to womanhood, to prevent promiscuity, sexual escapades by teenage girls. But it may rebound as fear of sexual intercourse could lead to frigidity and unwillingness to respond to lovemaking. Reasons vary according to different ethnic beliefs.
What is the prevalence rate of FGM in Nigeria?
About 30% of our women have been cut. It should be zero. I can recall that some years ago when the late First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo attended a women’s conference held in a foreign country, she advocated zero tolerance for FGM and a day to be set aside by the UN to mark it around the world. I think it was 6th February that was fixed and being observed worldwide.
FGM is both a public health issue and also human rights. It must be dealt with. It is harmful. Nigeria has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world – 576 per 100,000 which is 13% of the global maternal mortality rate. If female circumcision is adequately tackled,it can reduce maternal mortality rate in this country. Public health issues should be dealt with beyond building of hospitals and magnificent medical facilities.
Female circumcision is carried out on babies from age of infancy, 2, 5 years to teenagers, particularly in babies to reduce the horror of the pains.
Currently, some states in Nigeria such as Ekiti, Abia, Ondo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Cross River and Edo have laws prohibiting female genital cutting. Many others are yet to enact laws prohibiting FMG, allowing it without noise done to kids and babies because it heals faster on babies, with less trauma. There is no singular federal legislation against FGM at the moment. The problem is still there. Provision of clean water for the public will help combat many diseases.
You lead an advocacy group – Healthmark Consult, a public health organisation. How are you tackling FGM?
There should be more media campaign and enlightenment on this harmful practice. Media involvement is lacking. Many people are not aware of the health consequences of FGM.
Girl, children or women should not be circumcised at all in the first place, unlike boys who need to cut off the prepuce or tissue on the outer tip of the penis. It must be removed for boys – for medical reason. More information and education on harmful effects of female circumcision on health of the girl or woman is needed across thecountry. It is not over yet.
For girls, there are other alternatives to FGM. Chastity rings, bangles can be worn to signify their virginity and readiness for marriage. Government must do more to reduce poverty, inequality; ensure gender balancing in education; discourage early marriage for girls; enhance access to education and health services, female empowerment. We need a mechanism to ensure community dialogue involving men, women, boys, girls, old and young.
We need to ban early marriages, encourage people to speak out-men and boys. Why should a girl be cut! Unfortunately, FGM is about women against women. We should speak to female circumcisers who do this work, provide alternatives like offering them loans to trade or acquire vocational skills. Let’s try focused group discussion capable of having snowballing effect – one to another. Medicalisation of FGM may seem proper, but what is bad is bad. Female circumcisers are found in several villages across the country. These are women themselves engaged to cut off female sex organs.
Why are we not getting experts’ statistics, figures on FGM and survivors or victims to speak?
Many things are expected to be done, but not done. It used to be 41% but dropped to 19%. It will keep falling until people speak out. Speaking out can get FGM to zero level.
Systematic random sampling may be difficult to get, even what we get is a tip of the ice berg. It could be more. If we have improved social justice, people can speak up and be heard. Legislation had been slow and slack without lobby. More of peer activities, peer education, multi-pronged approach are required. If a public health issue like this is not problemised, we cannot get it done. Survivors and victims of FGM can’t speak for fear of stigmatisation.
According to the Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, done every five years, one in four women, aged between 15 – 49 years has been circumcised.
In the 2013 survey, Osun State has the highest with 77%, Ebonyi 74%, Ekiti 72%, while Katsina had lowest 0.1%.
On the prevalence rate, South-West is 47.5%, South-East 49%, South-South 25.8%, North-West 20.7%, North-Central 9.9%, North-East 2.9%.
Among ethnic groups, Yoruba have the highest with 55%, Igbo 45%, Hausa 19%, Ijaw 13% and Fulani 13%.FGM is highest among daughters of circumcised women. Elite women with good jobs, professionals in various fields of endeavour are not left out, but female circumcision is done in secret, no noise. Many parents are cutting the genitals of their daughters secretly especially in the rural areas which can be stopped, not only by legislation but also through persuasion, community enlightenment, family and peer discussion. The campaign against FGM should go down to the grassroots where this deadly practice is still rampant.
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1:57:00 PM
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Fuel scarcity over in days —Minister
By Emanuel Elebeke
ABUJA — The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, following the approval of the subsidy payment by the National Assembly.
The minister, who gave the assurance during a visit to the headquarters of the Daily Trust
newspaper in Abuja, yesterday, explained that the N521 billion approved
by the National Assembly, as part of the supplementary budget of N574.4
billion, would be enough to cover the fuel subsidy till the end of the
year.
He also said the kind of fuel scarcity that has triggered vehicular queues across the country would no longer repeat itself.
He said: “We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the National Assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval.’’
The minister thanked the management and staff of the newspaper for the role they played during the last general elections.
He said: “The sacrifice you made helped to bring about the change that Nigerians desired. You stood by the people of Nigeria when it mattered most, and we will continue to engage with you all through the tenure of this Administration to exchange ideas in the interest of Nigerians.”
The minister, however, used the occasion to announce a plan to set up an adhoc committee, comprising representatives of the government, the military and the media to enhance the exchange of information, especially concerning the war against terrorism.
He also informed that the 2016 budget would soon be submitted to the National Assembly, which he said would address the yearnings of Nigerians.
ABUJA — The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, following the approval of the subsidy payment by the National Assembly.
The minister, who gave the assurance during a visit to the headquarters of the Daily Trust
newspaper in Abuja, yesterday, explained that the N521 billion approved
by the National Assembly, as part of the supplementary budget of N574.4
billion, would be enough to cover the fuel subsidy till the end of the
year.He also said the kind of fuel scarcity that has triggered vehicular queues across the country would no longer repeat itself.
He said: “We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the National Assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval.’’
The minister thanked the management and staff of the newspaper for the role they played during the last general elections.
He said: “The sacrifice you made helped to bring about the change that Nigerians desired. You stood by the people of Nigeria when it mattered most, and we will continue to engage with you all through the tenure of this Administration to exchange ideas in the interest of Nigerians.”
The minister, however, used the occasion to announce a plan to set up an adhoc committee, comprising representatives of the government, the military and the media to enhance the exchange of information, especially concerning the war against terrorism.
He also informed that the 2016 budget would soon be submitted to the National Assembly, which he said would address the yearnings of Nigerians.
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1:53:00 PM
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Nollywood filmmaker DonPedro Obaseki on Thursday
declared his intention to run for the Edo State Governorship saying that
it time for his people to emerge from the dark abyss of tainted
mafia-style politics in the state.
Read his full statement
Dear Friends, Sisters and Brothers. My name is DonPedro Osaro Agbonifo Obaseki.
I’m a bona fide son of Edo State. I live in Ward 7, Oredo LGA.
I herein, via this brief statement, signify my intention to seek nomination as the flag bearer of my party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2016 Edo State Governorship Elections.
After due and serial consultations with my immediate family, associates, friends, colleagues, as well as traditional, religious and civil leaders, I believe the time is nigh to Make Our Voices Emerge from the dark abyss of tainted mafia-style politics of our dear EDO.
Most importantly, I’ve sought and received, with utmost humility, the corporate Blessings/endorsements of the Elders Council of the Extended OBASEKI, OGBEIDE’OYO, BAZUAYE-EMEHI, & EZOMO Families (my paternal and maternal families) and these ceremonies will be placed in the public domain in a few days, across all mass media. As a child of Tradition, these endorsements are tangential to my aspirations and ambitions.
I beg you to join me in this arduous task. As the seeming youngest in the large field of perceived aspirants, I vision myself as the proverbial little DAVID in the clustered House of Jesse. Let’s write a brand new chapter in the chequered history of our Race. I beg you to join me to chart a new course for our Children and their Children’s Children.
We can do this. Together. Let’s M.O.V.E beyond the acrimonious bickering that put us back. Let’s M.O.V.E beyond the shame of the totemic “Motor-Park” democracy that envelopes our collective heritage. Let’s put EDO first.
In a few days, we shall launch our campaign to seek our party’s nomination, and the Mandate of our great people. God Bless Edo State. God Bless Nigeria. Omon’Oba n’Edo gható kpéré. Isé!
Read his full statementDear Friends, Sisters and Brothers. My name is DonPedro Osaro Agbonifo Obaseki.
I’m a bona fide son of Edo State. I live in Ward 7, Oredo LGA.
I herein, via this brief statement, signify my intention to seek nomination as the flag bearer of my party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2016 Edo State Governorship Elections.
After due and serial consultations with my immediate family, associates, friends, colleagues, as well as traditional, religious and civil leaders, I believe the time is nigh to Make Our Voices Emerge from the dark abyss of tainted mafia-style politics of our dear EDO.
Most importantly, I’ve sought and received, with utmost humility, the corporate Blessings/endorsements of the Elders Council of the Extended OBASEKI, OGBEIDE’OYO, BAZUAYE-EMEHI, & EZOMO Families (my paternal and maternal families) and these ceremonies will be placed in the public domain in a few days, across all mass media. As a child of Tradition, these endorsements are tangential to my aspirations and ambitions.
I beg you to join me in this arduous task. As the seeming youngest in the large field of perceived aspirants, I vision myself as the proverbial little DAVID in the clustered House of Jesse. Let’s write a brand new chapter in the chequered history of our Race. I beg you to join me to chart a new course for our Children and their Children’s Children.
We can do this. Together. Let’s M.O.V.E beyond the acrimonious bickering that put us back. Let’s M.O.V.E beyond the shame of the totemic “Motor-Park” democracy that envelopes our collective heritage. Let’s put EDO first.
In a few days, we shall launch our campaign to seek our party’s nomination, and the Mandate of our great people. God Bless Edo State. God Bless Nigeria. Omon’Oba n’Edo gható kpéré. Isé!
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1:49:00 PM
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America’s epidemic of gun violence has struck again and claimed 14
lives, this time at the hands of a heavily armed man and woman who shot
up a Christmas party in California and were later gunned down by police.
It was the worst mass shooting in three years. Police said they did not yet know the motive but did not rule out terrorism in Wednesday’s slaughter.
Police identified the pair as Syed Farook, a 28-year-old US citizen who worked for the local county as an environmental inspector, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, whose nationality was unknown. They said the suspects were either married or engaged.
Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardino’s police chief, confirmed that both were killed in a shootout in which police chased and then surrounded a black SUV.
The role of a third detainee caught fleeing from the scene is not clear but he is not believed to have been a shooter, Burguan added.
The shooters targeted a year-end party taking place at a social services center in San Bernardino, about an hour’s drive east of Los Angeles. Besides the fatalities, 17 other people were wounded.
“We don’t have the motive at this point,” the police chief said. “We have not ruled out terrorism.”
According to the site Mass Shooting Tracker, the latest attack brings to 352 the number of mass shootings in the United States so far this year. A mass shooting is defined as four or more people shot in one incident.
The massacre drew an angry response from President Barack Obama, who once again urged Congress to pass tougher gun control measures to stem America’s epidemic of gun violence.
Farook had worked for the county health department for five years, Burguan said.
He and Malik were dressed in military-style gear and carried assault weapons as they burst into an auditorium let out for the holiday party by the Inland Regional Center for the disabled.
Burguan said Farook had attended the Christmas party organized by the health department and left after an apparent dispute, only to return a short time later with Malik, armed with assault rifles and semiautomatic handguns.
“Based upon how they were equipped, there had to be some degree of planning that went into this,” he said. “I don’t think they just ran home and put on these tactical clothes, grabbed guns and came back on a spur of the moment thing.”
– ‘In shock’ –
There was no immediate information on the identity of the victims.
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) denounced the killings.
Farook’s brother-in-law, Farhan Khan, said he had no clue what prompted the carnage.
“I am in shock that something like this could happen,” a visibly shaken Khan told a press conference organized by CAIR.
Khan said Malik was Farook’s wife and they left their six-month-old daughter with Farook’s mother earlier in the day on the pretext that they had a doctor’s appointment, Khan told NBC News separately.
The Los Angeles Times quoted some of Farook’s co-workers as saying he had previously traveled to Saudi Arabia and returned with a new wife. The couple appeared to be “living the American dream,” Patrick Baccari, a fellow inspector who shared a cubicle with Farook, told the paper.
Baccari and other co-workers told the Times Farook was a devout Muslim who kept to himself and rarely discussed religion at work.
“He never struck me as a fanatic, he never struck me as suspicious,” Griselda Reisinger, who worked with Farook until changing jobs in May, told the paper.
– Deadliest since Sandy Hook –
It was the country’s deadliest shooting since December 14, 2012, when a young man killed 26 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
Witnesses at the California scene recounted barricading themselves in offices and hiding as the sound of gunfire erupted.
Mark Stutte said his daughter was attending the party organized by the county’s public health department and called him terrified while hiding in a restroom as gunshots rang out in the background.
“It was really, really super scary,” he told local TV, as he wept. “I’m far away. I couldn’t do anything for her.”
Obama, who just last week made a plea for action on gun control after three people were killed at a family planning center in Colorado, voiced his anger once more.
“The one thing we do know is that we have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere else in the world,” he told CBS News.
“There are some steps we could take, not to eliminate every one of these mass shootings, but to improve the odds that they don’t happen as frequently.”
Wednesday’s shooting was certain to further stoke the bitter debate about gun control in the United States.
It was the worst mass shooting in three years. Police said they did not yet know the motive but did not rule out terrorism in Wednesday’s slaughter.
Police identified the pair as Syed Farook, a 28-year-old US citizen who worked for the local county as an environmental inspector, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, whose nationality was unknown. They said the suspects were either married or engaged.
Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardino’s police chief, confirmed that both were killed in a shootout in which police chased and then surrounded a black SUV.
The role of a third detainee caught fleeing from the scene is not clear but he is not believed to have been a shooter, Burguan added.
The shooters targeted a year-end party taking place at a social services center in San Bernardino, about an hour’s drive east of Los Angeles. Besides the fatalities, 17 other people were wounded.
“We don’t have the motive at this point,” the police chief said. “We have not ruled out terrorism.”
According to the site Mass Shooting Tracker, the latest attack brings to 352 the number of mass shootings in the United States so far this year. A mass shooting is defined as four or more people shot in one incident.
The massacre drew an angry response from President Barack Obama, who once again urged Congress to pass tougher gun control measures to stem America’s epidemic of gun violence.
Farook had worked for the county health department for five years, Burguan said.
He and Malik were dressed in military-style gear and carried assault weapons as they burst into an auditorium let out for the holiday party by the Inland Regional Center for the disabled.
Burguan said Farook had attended the Christmas party organized by the health department and left after an apparent dispute, only to return a short time later with Malik, armed with assault rifles and semiautomatic handguns.
“Based upon how they were equipped, there had to be some degree of planning that went into this,” he said. “I don’t think they just ran home and put on these tactical clothes, grabbed guns and came back on a spur of the moment thing.”
– ‘In shock’ –
There was no immediate information on the identity of the victims.
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) denounced the killings.
Farook’s brother-in-law, Farhan Khan, said he had no clue what prompted the carnage.
“I am in shock that something like this could happen,” a visibly shaken Khan told a press conference organized by CAIR.
Khan said Malik was Farook’s wife and they left their six-month-old daughter with Farook’s mother earlier in the day on the pretext that they had a doctor’s appointment, Khan told NBC News separately.
The Los Angeles Times quoted some of Farook’s co-workers as saying he had previously traveled to Saudi Arabia and returned with a new wife. The couple appeared to be “living the American dream,” Patrick Baccari, a fellow inspector who shared a cubicle with Farook, told the paper.
Baccari and other co-workers told the Times Farook was a devout Muslim who kept to himself and rarely discussed religion at work.
“He never struck me as a fanatic, he never struck me as suspicious,” Griselda Reisinger, who worked with Farook until changing jobs in May, told the paper.
– Deadliest since Sandy Hook –
It was the country’s deadliest shooting since December 14, 2012, when a young man killed 26 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
Witnesses at the California scene recounted barricading themselves in offices and hiding as the sound of gunfire erupted.
Mark Stutte said his daughter was attending the party organized by the county’s public health department and called him terrified while hiding in a restroom as gunshots rang out in the background.
“It was really, really super scary,” he told local TV, as he wept. “I’m far away. I couldn’t do anything for her.”
Obama, who just last week made a plea for action on gun control after three people were killed at a family planning center in Colorado, voiced his anger once more.
“The one thing we do know is that we have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere else in the world,” he told CBS News.
“There are some steps we could take, not to eliminate every one of these mass shootings, but to improve the odds that they don’t happen as frequently.”
Wednesday’s shooting was certain to further stoke the bitter debate about gun control in the United States.
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1:46:00 PM
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Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has finally reacted to the
outcome of Wednesday’s protest by pro-Biafra groups, the Movement for
the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Onitsha, the commercial city of
the state, which reportedly led to the death of 9 civilians, two police
sergeants and eight others injured.
The clash between protesters and security operatives on the Onitsha
Head Bridge, also reportedly led to the burning down of the Onitsha
Central Mosque and at least six Dangote trucks.
Bothered by this, Governor Obiano today, appealed to the various groups of agitators protesting for the release of the founder of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, to maintain the peace in the state.
Obiano in a special address, said that he wouldn’t stand by and watch what had looked like a peaceful procession get out of hand.
“As your Governor and the Chief Security Officer of the state, I am compelled to act to avert any likely breakdown of law and order. In all situations, the preservation of human life comes first and I am determined to enforce that,” Governor Obiano declared.
He advised the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other aggrieved groups and individuals to “resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilize any part of Anambra State.”
The governor further warned all mischief makers who might want to take advantage of the peaceful demonstration to foment trouble to “keep off as we will not tolerate any breach of peace under any guise or pretence.”
He assured residents and visitors to the state that he was in touch with all the security agencies in the state and had their assurances that mischief makers would not be allowed to take advantage of the situation.
“I therefore wish to assure Ndi Anambra and all visitors to the state to go about their normal business peacefully as the security agencies are on top of the situation to preserve law and order,” he said.
Scene of Onitsha protest
Bothered by this, Governor Obiano today, appealed to the various groups of agitators protesting for the release of the founder of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, to maintain the peace in the state.
Obiano in a special address, said that he wouldn’t stand by and watch what had looked like a peaceful procession get out of hand.
“As your Governor and the Chief Security Officer of the state, I am compelled to act to avert any likely breakdown of law and order. In all situations, the preservation of human life comes first and I am determined to enforce that,” Governor Obiano declared.
He advised the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other aggrieved groups and individuals to “resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilize any part of Anambra State.”
The governor further warned all mischief makers who might want to take advantage of the peaceful demonstration to foment trouble to “keep off as we will not tolerate any breach of peace under any guise or pretence.”
He assured residents and visitors to the state that he was in touch with all the security agencies in the state and had their assurances that mischief makers would not be allowed to take advantage of the situation.
“I therefore wish to assure Ndi Anambra and all visitors to the state to go about their normal business peacefully as the security agencies are on top of the situation to preserve law and order,” he said.
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1:37:00 PM
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By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA – Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim has denied sponsoring the ongoing pro-Biafra protests, saying any assertion to the contrary is the handiwork of detractors.
Anyim, a former Senate President who spoke through his Media Adviser, Sam Nwaobasi Thursday, added that he is neither under house arrest nor any form of investigation.
“We find it despicable that some people have taken it upon themselves to disparage, embarrass, ridicule, insult and indeed incite the public against Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, since he left office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, through publication of bare-faced lies, fabrication of baseless stories and peddling of rumours on phantom issues that make no meaning or sense.
“We have resisted the temptation to join issues with these gangs of debased characters. However, there is a limit to what can be ignored”, Nwaobasi said.
According to him, “Sen. Anyim is not sponsoring, has not sponsored and will never sponsor any protest by any group against the Government or our dear country Nigeria”.
He added that Sen. Anyim is not under any investigation for any such allegation, warning those behind what he described as dastardly and mischievous acts to stop forthwith.
“They must bear in mind that those who rise up against an innocent person are only setting themselves up for a fatal fall”, he added.
An online media portal had reported how Anyim is currently under investigation for sponsoring activities of Radio Biafra as well as pro-Biafra protests.
The portal also added that the former SGF has been accused of taking huge sums from the coffers of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC while in office, which he now allegedly uses to fund the pro-Biafra agitation.
ABUJA – Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim has denied sponsoring the ongoing pro-Biafra protests, saying any assertion to the contrary is the handiwork of detractors.
Anyim, a former Senate President who spoke through his Media Adviser, Sam Nwaobasi Thursday, added that he is neither under house arrest nor any form of investigation.
“We find it despicable that some people have taken it upon themselves to disparage, embarrass, ridicule, insult and indeed incite the public against Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, since he left office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, through publication of bare-faced lies, fabrication of baseless stories and peddling of rumours on phantom issues that make no meaning or sense.
“We have resisted the temptation to join issues with these gangs of debased characters. However, there is a limit to what can be ignored”, Nwaobasi said.
According to him, “Sen. Anyim is not sponsoring, has not sponsored and will never sponsor any protest by any group against the Government or our dear country Nigeria”.
He added that Sen. Anyim is not under any investigation for any such allegation, warning those behind what he described as dastardly and mischievous acts to stop forthwith.
“They must bear in mind that those who rise up against an innocent person are only setting themselves up for a fatal fall”, he added.
An online media portal had reported how Anyim is currently under investigation for sponsoring activities of Radio Biafra as well as pro-Biafra protests.
The portal also added that the former SGF has been accused of taking huge sums from the coffers of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC while in office, which he now allegedly uses to fund the pro-Biafra agitation.
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1:35:00 PM
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By Chidi Nkwopara, Kingsley Omonobi, Wole Mosadomi, Omeiza Ajayi,
Francis Igata, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Egufe Yafugborhi & Chimaobi Nwaiwu
ABUJA—THE three-week-long pro-Biafra protests turned bloody, yesterday, as the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) killed nine of the protesters and injured 18 in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State.
Irked by the stubborn disposition of the pro- Biafra agitators, who
blocked the Niger Bridge Head and refused to give way to motorists, the
JTF comprising Army, Navy, Police and Civil Defence troops, yesterday
afternoon, opened fire at protesting members of Indigenous People of
Biafra, IPOB, and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State
of Biafra, MASSOB, killing nine people and injuring 18. Five people
were killed at Niger Bridge Head while three were killed at Obodoukwu
Road. A suya (barbecue meat) seller said to have been hit by a
stray bullet died instantly. The protesters were having a peaceful
procession across South East states and had vowed to continue their
blockage of the bridge for three days until detained Director of Radio
Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu is released.
Miscreants, on hearing that some people had been shot dead by the JTF, started another protest, marched to the Central mosque near Onitsha Main Market and set it ablaze. A Hilux pick-up van with Federal Government number plate was also burnt when the JTF held motorists and commuters hostage at Upper Iweka with sporadic shootings that had never been witnessed before in Onitsha.
Despite losing two men, we didn’t attack protesters – Police
The Anambra Police Command said, yesterday, that despite losing two of its men during the pro-Biafra protests in Onitsha, the command never retaliated.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, in an interview, faulted the allegation that Police fired at the protesters, adding that one of the policemen, a sergeant, was killed at Obodo Ukwu, while the other was killed at Eze Iweka road.
He said that following the problem in Onitsha, police kept vigil to ensure that peace was maintained and totally denied police involvement in the bloody riot that led to the death of about nine people.
“We did not fire a shot at anybody and even when our men were felled, we still did not retaliate,” he said.
It was gathered that what led to yesterday’s violence was an attempt by the JTF to reopen the blocked roads at the Bridge Head and at Upper Iweka road in the wee hours of Wednesday.
When the security operatives tried to open the roads, it was learned, they met resistance from the protesters, who grounded Onitsha on Tuesday and ensured that no vehicle entered or left the commercial city.
How protests turned bloody
The protesting IPOB members had blocked the Niger Bridge early Tuesday morning, thereby grounding vehicular movements in and out of Onitsha. From Asaba, Delta State, many boarded speed boats provided by the Marine Police to get in and out of Onitsha.
The protest was, however, aggravated by shooting to death of five IPOB members who were observing their peaceful procession at the Niger Bridge Head against the continued detention of their leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu at about 1.30 am
All the markets in Onitsha were shut around 12.30 pm, as thousands of
traders in the markets and environs were seen scampering for safety as
sporadic gunshots continued in many parts of the city.
The JTF, who could not disperse the protesters on Tuesday invaded the Niger Bridge at about 1.30 am, yesterday, and opened fire on the IPOB members who refused to leave the Niger Bridge, the gateway to the South East, killing six people including the suya seller said to have been hit by a stray bullet.
The killing of the protesters sparked off another protest by IPOB members who were joined by MASSOB members. They made bonfires along Onitsha-Owerri Road and Onitsha-Enugu Express way, forcing motorists coming in and out of Onitsha from Enugu, Asaba and Owerri to be trapped.
A Vanguard reporter who went to Oba for an assignment was trapped at Oba junction, where he had to pay N3,000 from Oba Junction to Tarzan Junction, Onitsha, as over 2,000 vehicles coming into Onitsha were seen parked at the Oba Junction and refused entrance into Onitsha.
Commercial motorcyclists banned on the express roads by the state government made brisk business and had a field day as it was the only means of coming into and out of Onitsha.
Military should not push us into violence — IPOB
Speaking with newsmen, National coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, alleged that five of their members were killed while 18 people sustained injuries, adding that he learned that more people were killed in the sporadic shooting by the JTF at Upper Iweka.
“The Joint Military Task Force could not disperse the protesters on Tuesday, and they went to regroup and invaded our members who were observing our three-day peaceful protest at the Niger Bridge at about 1.30 am Wednesday morning. We warned that they should not push us to be violent because we have people that can match them violence for violence,” he said.
Vanguard gathered that Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Ogirisi Igbo, a respected Igbo leader, who has the loyalty of both MASSOB and IPOB youths was attacked at about 1.35 am when he went to talk to the protesting youths at the Niger Bridge Head, after some Igbo leaders had pleaded with him to speak with the protesters.
Speaking in an interview at his house in Oba, Chief Ezeonwuka said: “The dangerous game being played by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu will end up being an expensive joke and dangerous mistake.
“I am calling on Igbo elite to speak with one voice for immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu before the youths turn their peaceful protest to violent protest. The protest started with free flow of traffic, but today it has advanced to road block,” he said.
The Campaign for Democracy, CD, South East branch, also condemned the killing of the protesters. Chairman of CD, South East branch, Dede Uzor A Uzor, said: “IPOB has been peaceful in their protest and there should not be any reason to open fire on them by security agencies. We are also calling for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB and MASSOB members being incarcerated in various prisons and detention centres in the country, as they have not broken any law for protesting peacefully.”
IG reads riot act, begins prosecution of protesters
However, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has disclosed that no fewer than 137 protesters have been arrested and currently undergoing prosecution. The police boss spoke yesterday, when he visited the Ministry of Interior.
According to him, the suspects are all members of MASSOB and IPOB.
Arase, who also described Nigerians as lawless, said in as much as government respects the right of citizens to free expression, MASSOB and IPOB activists must stop threatening public peace or face the full wrath of the law.
His words: “What I can assure you is that we will not allow any group to disturb the peace of this country. We will clamp down on them, we will deal with them, we will prosecute them. Already, we have about 137 of them who are undergoing prosecution across the length and breadth of the South East and we will continue to do that.
“The latest manifestation of this threat is the attempt to block the
Onitsha end of Niger Bridge on December 1, 2015, an action that caused
major hardship to innocent and law abiding motorists and citizens. The
act also occasioned serious dislocation of business activities.”
Arase issued a stern warning to MASSOB and IPOB activists to stop threatening public peace or face the full weight of the law.
To maintain law and order, the IG in a statement by Acting ACP Olabisi Kolawole, directed Assistant Inspectors–General of Police Zone 5, (Benin); Zone 6, (Calabar) and Zone 9 (Umuahia) and all Commissioners of Police in the affected states in the South East and neigbouring states “to henceforth maximally exercise their statutory mandate in relation to prevention and disruption of any gathering that threatens public order and national cohesion. Any person or group of persons so arrested in furtherance to the enforcement of this order will be made to face the full wrath of the law”.
The IGP advised parents and guardians to call their children and wards to order as the patience of the Force was being stretched to the limit, adding that “no individual or group interest can override the interest of the nation and that democratic values provide for exploration of rule of law to advance any concern, not the resort to endless and misguided acts of brigandage, unless there is an ulterior motive as the extant instance tends to dictate.”
Monarchs to the rescue
Disturbed by the growing protests, representatives of Northern States Council of Traditional Rulers and their South East counterparts met in Owerri, yesterday, to deliberate on the issue.
The visiting royal fathers from the North were led by the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
Other traditional rulers that made the trip included the Coordinating Committee Chairman of Northern States Council of Traditional Rulers and the Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawal Aliyu Gumi; the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai, who is the Chairman of Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers; Emir of Fika, Alhaji Abali Mohammadu, Chairman of Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba Gyang, Chairman of Plateau State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The South-East Traditional Rulers were led to the meeting by the Chairman of the Council, Eze Ebere Dick, who is also the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers; Eze Agunwa Ohiri, Chairman Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Eze Dr. Agom Eze, Chairman, Ebonyi State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Speaking when the group paid a courtesy call on Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Government House, Owerri, the Etsu Nupe and leader of the delegation, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, explained that they were in the state to meet with the South East Traditional Council, at the instance of His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who is Chairman of the Northern Council of Traditional Rulers.
“We are principally in Imo to discuss the issue of the current and escalating agitation by Pro-Biafra groups in the South-East geo-political zone and to find the reasons for this renewed agitations and how the situation can be arrested”, Alhaji Abubakar said.
He also disclosed that they are in Imo to find out the truth about the rumour that there was crises in the leadership of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers.
While saying that they would go back home to relate their findings to their colleagues, the royal fathers also remarked that protection of the nation’s unity was paramount.
Speaking also, Chairman of the South East Traditional Council, Eze Ebere Dick, promised that they would work together with the South East governors to amicably resolve the MASSOB and IPOB issues.
Responding, Governor Okorocha commended the royal fathers for the meeting, which he described as timely and advised them too to “make such meetings regular in the interest of the nation. There is need for traditional rulers across the nation to be meeting regularly, to help in curbing religious and ethnic crises, mostly caused or sponsored by politicians for political gains. It is also important that our traditional rulers should resist the temptation of entering into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.”
On the pro-Biafra protests and agitations, Governor Okorocha informed that the South-East governors and stakeholders in the region had set up a committee to look into the issue and proffer quick solution.
The governor also appealed to the Northern traditional rulers to, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of the activities of Fulani herdsmen within the South-East because their activities constitute great danger to lives and properties of the people of the area.
Obiano sues for peace
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, last night, in a broadcast appealed to the protesters to maintain peace and resist attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation to destabilize the state.
The governor’s address read: “My beloved people of Anambra State, I wish to address you on the on-going protest staged in Onitsha by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and MASSOB.
“The government of Anambra State has been monitoring developments and is greatly concerned about the security of lives and property of residents and visitors to the state. As your Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I am compelled to act to avert any likely breakdown of law and order. In all situations, the preservation of human life comes first and I am determined to enforce that.
“Since the inception of my administration, we have made the security of lives and property our priority and we are not going to compromise on that. I, therefore, sincerely appeal to members of the IPOB, MASSOB and other aggrieved groups and individuals to maintain the peace and resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilize any part of Anambra State.
“I am in constant touch with all the security agencies in the state to ensure that what has otherwise been a peaceful protest is not hijacked by trouble makers. All mischief makers are hereby warned to keep off as we will not tolerate any breach of peace under any guise or pretext. You are seriously warned! I therefore wish to assure Ndi Anambra and all visitors to the state to go about their normal businesses peacefully as the security agencies are on top of the situation to preserve law and order.”
We didn’t set Onitsha Central Mosque ablaze – IPOB, MASSOB
Meanwhile, the agitating groups have disassociated themselves from acts of arson and violence that culminated in the razing down of Onitsha Central Mosque and burning of some vehicles.
MASSOB Acting Leader, Uchenna Madu, in a statement said: “The setting of Ontisha Central Mosque and vehicles ablaze and making of bonfires, which depict violence are not done by the members of IPOB or MASSOB under my leadership.
“This unwarranted acts of violence are perfected by hoodlums sponsored by agents of the Federal Government to create impression that non-violence and peaceful pro-Biafra groups have turned violent in our agitation for Biafra. Our oppressors are no longer comfortable. There is no evidence of terrorism in our protest. How can we resort to violence now that we’re told that the presidency is about negotiating with leaders of pro-Biafra group?
“With today’s killing of our members and injuring many with bullet shots,we are no longer comfortable with the presidency’s move for dialogue. Federal Government’s move for dialogue is hypocritical and deceitful. Any Igbo group, organization and persons negotiating, meeting or dialoguing with the presidency on our behalf without our consent or mandate should stop now.
“MASSOB led by Uchenna Madu and IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu have never mandated any person to negotiate for us. Even in this persecution, arrest, killings, clampdown, suppression against us by Nigeria Government, we shall continue and intensify our non-violence agitation for Biafra. For Nigeria to release their Armed Forces against non-violent, defenceless Biafra agitators shows their wickedness and the devilish mind of President Muhammad Buhari against our people.”
Don’t use force
Following the recent development, Igbo living in Niger State have urged the Federal Government not to use force on the agitators for Biafra but rather should dialogue with them in order not to further compound the insecurity that has already enveloped many parts of the country.
While suggeting dialogue as a means of settling the crisis which is daily building up across the country, the Niger State Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it is not in any way in support of any move that could lead to war in the country.
ABUJA—THE three-week-long pro-Biafra protests turned bloody, yesterday, as the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) killed nine of the protesters and injured 18 in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State.
Pro-Biafra
protesters mount road blocks and bonfires at Onitsha Head Bridge in
Anambra State, yesterday. Photos: Vincent Ujumadu.
Miscreants, on hearing that some people had been shot dead by the JTF, started another protest, marched to the Central mosque near Onitsha Main Market and set it ablaze. A Hilux pick-up van with Federal Government number plate was also burnt when the JTF held motorists and commuters hostage at Upper Iweka with sporadic shootings that had never been witnessed before in Onitsha.
Despite losing two men, we didn’t attack protesters – Police
The Anambra Police Command said, yesterday, that despite losing two of its men during the pro-Biafra protests in Onitsha, the command never retaliated.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, in an interview, faulted the allegation that Police fired at the protesters, adding that one of the policemen, a sergeant, was killed at Obodo Ukwu, while the other was killed at Eze Iweka road.
He said that following the problem in Onitsha, police kept vigil to ensure that peace was maintained and totally denied police involvement in the bloody riot that led to the death of about nine people.
“We did not fire a shot at anybody and even when our men were felled, we still did not retaliate,” he said.
It was gathered that what led to yesterday’s violence was an attempt by the JTF to reopen the blocked roads at the Bridge Head and at Upper Iweka road in the wee hours of Wednesday.
When the security operatives tried to open the roads, it was learned, they met resistance from the protesters, who grounded Onitsha on Tuesday and ensured that no vehicle entered or left the commercial city.
How protests turned bloody
The protesting IPOB members had blocked the Niger Bridge early Tuesday morning, thereby grounding vehicular movements in and out of Onitsha. From Asaba, Delta State, many boarded speed boats provided by the Marine Police to get in and out of Onitsha.
The protest was, however, aggravated by shooting to death of five IPOB members who were observing their peaceful procession at the Niger Bridge Head against the continued detention of their leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu at about 1.30 am
Pro-Biafra
protesters mount road blocks and bonfires at Onitsha Head Bridge in
Anambra State, yesterday. Photos: Vincent Ujumadu.
The JTF, who could not disperse the protesters on Tuesday invaded the Niger Bridge at about 1.30 am, yesterday, and opened fire on the IPOB members who refused to leave the Niger Bridge, the gateway to the South East, killing six people including the suya seller said to have been hit by a stray bullet.
The killing of the protesters sparked off another protest by IPOB members who were joined by MASSOB members. They made bonfires along Onitsha-Owerri Road and Onitsha-Enugu Express way, forcing motorists coming in and out of Onitsha from Enugu, Asaba and Owerri to be trapped.
A Vanguard reporter who went to Oba for an assignment was trapped at Oba junction, where he had to pay N3,000 from Oba Junction to Tarzan Junction, Onitsha, as over 2,000 vehicles coming into Onitsha were seen parked at the Oba Junction and refused entrance into Onitsha.
Commercial motorcyclists banned on the express roads by the state government made brisk business and had a field day as it was the only means of coming into and out of Onitsha.
Military should not push us into violence — IPOB
Speaking with newsmen, National coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, alleged that five of their members were killed while 18 people sustained injuries, adding that he learned that more people were killed in the sporadic shooting by the JTF at Upper Iweka.
“The Joint Military Task Force could not disperse the protesters on Tuesday, and they went to regroup and invaded our members who were observing our three-day peaceful protest at the Niger Bridge at about 1.30 am Wednesday morning. We warned that they should not push us to be violent because we have people that can match them violence for violence,” he said.
Vanguard gathered that Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Ogirisi Igbo, a respected Igbo leader, who has the loyalty of both MASSOB and IPOB youths was attacked at about 1.35 am when he went to talk to the protesting youths at the Niger Bridge Head, after some Igbo leaders had pleaded with him to speak with the protesters.
Speaking in an interview at his house in Oba, Chief Ezeonwuka said: “The dangerous game being played by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu will end up being an expensive joke and dangerous mistake.
“I am calling on Igbo elite to speak with one voice for immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu before the youths turn their peaceful protest to violent protest. The protest started with free flow of traffic, but today it has advanced to road block,” he said.
The Campaign for Democracy, CD, South East branch, also condemned the killing of the protesters. Chairman of CD, South East branch, Dede Uzor A Uzor, said: “IPOB has been peaceful in their protest and there should not be any reason to open fire on them by security agencies. We are also calling for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB and MASSOB members being incarcerated in various prisons and detention centres in the country, as they have not broken any law for protesting peacefully.”
IG reads riot act, begins prosecution of protesters
However, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has disclosed that no fewer than 137 protesters have been arrested and currently undergoing prosecution. The police boss spoke yesterday, when he visited the Ministry of Interior.
According to him, the suspects are all members of MASSOB and IPOB.
Arase, who also described Nigerians as lawless, said in as much as government respects the right of citizens to free expression, MASSOB and IPOB activists must stop threatening public peace or face the full wrath of the law.
His words: “What I can assure you is that we will not allow any group to disturb the peace of this country. We will clamp down on them, we will deal with them, we will prosecute them. Already, we have about 137 of them who are undergoing prosecution across the length and breadth of the South East and we will continue to do that.
Onitsha-protest
Arase issued a stern warning to MASSOB and IPOB activists to stop threatening public peace or face the full weight of the law.
To maintain law and order, the IG in a statement by Acting ACP Olabisi Kolawole, directed Assistant Inspectors–General of Police Zone 5, (Benin); Zone 6, (Calabar) and Zone 9 (Umuahia) and all Commissioners of Police in the affected states in the South East and neigbouring states “to henceforth maximally exercise their statutory mandate in relation to prevention and disruption of any gathering that threatens public order and national cohesion. Any person or group of persons so arrested in furtherance to the enforcement of this order will be made to face the full wrath of the law”.
The IGP advised parents and guardians to call their children and wards to order as the patience of the Force was being stretched to the limit, adding that “no individual or group interest can override the interest of the nation and that democratic values provide for exploration of rule of law to advance any concern, not the resort to endless and misguided acts of brigandage, unless there is an ulterior motive as the extant instance tends to dictate.”
Monarchs to the rescue
Disturbed by the growing protests, representatives of Northern States Council of Traditional Rulers and their South East counterparts met in Owerri, yesterday, to deliberate on the issue.
The visiting royal fathers from the North were led by the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
Other traditional rulers that made the trip included the Coordinating Committee Chairman of Northern States Council of Traditional Rulers and the Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawal Aliyu Gumi; the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai, who is the Chairman of Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers; Emir of Fika, Alhaji Abali Mohammadu, Chairman of Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba Gyang, Chairman of Plateau State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The South-East Traditional Rulers were led to the meeting by the Chairman of the Council, Eze Ebere Dick, who is also the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers; Eze Agunwa Ohiri, Chairman Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Eze Dr. Agom Eze, Chairman, Ebonyi State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Speaking when the group paid a courtesy call on Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Government House, Owerri, the Etsu Nupe and leader of the delegation, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, explained that they were in the state to meet with the South East Traditional Council, at the instance of His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who is Chairman of the Northern Council of Traditional Rulers.
“We are principally in Imo to discuss the issue of the current and escalating agitation by Pro-Biafra groups in the South-East geo-political zone and to find the reasons for this renewed agitations and how the situation can be arrested”, Alhaji Abubakar said.
He also disclosed that they are in Imo to find out the truth about the rumour that there was crises in the leadership of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers.
While saying that they would go back home to relate their findings to their colleagues, the royal fathers also remarked that protection of the nation’s unity was paramount.
Speaking also, Chairman of the South East Traditional Council, Eze Ebere Dick, promised that they would work together with the South East governors to amicably resolve the MASSOB and IPOB issues.
Responding, Governor Okorocha commended the royal fathers for the meeting, which he described as timely and advised them too to “make such meetings regular in the interest of the nation. There is need for traditional rulers across the nation to be meeting regularly, to help in curbing religious and ethnic crises, mostly caused or sponsored by politicians for political gains. It is also important that our traditional rulers should resist the temptation of entering into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.”
On the pro-Biafra protests and agitations, Governor Okorocha informed that the South-East governors and stakeholders in the region had set up a committee to look into the issue and proffer quick solution.
The governor also appealed to the Northern traditional rulers to, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of the activities of Fulani herdsmen within the South-East because their activities constitute great danger to lives and properties of the people of the area.
Obiano sues for peace
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, last night, in a broadcast appealed to the protesters to maintain peace and resist attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation to destabilize the state.
The governor’s address read: “My beloved people of Anambra State, I wish to address you on the on-going protest staged in Onitsha by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and MASSOB.
“The government of Anambra State has been monitoring developments and is greatly concerned about the security of lives and property of residents and visitors to the state. As your Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I am compelled to act to avert any likely breakdown of law and order. In all situations, the preservation of human life comes first and I am determined to enforce that.
“Since the inception of my administration, we have made the security of lives and property our priority and we are not going to compromise on that. I, therefore, sincerely appeal to members of the IPOB, MASSOB and other aggrieved groups and individuals to maintain the peace and resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilize any part of Anambra State.
“I am in constant touch with all the security agencies in the state to ensure that what has otherwise been a peaceful protest is not hijacked by trouble makers. All mischief makers are hereby warned to keep off as we will not tolerate any breach of peace under any guise or pretext. You are seriously warned! I therefore wish to assure Ndi Anambra and all visitors to the state to go about their normal businesses peacefully as the security agencies are on top of the situation to preserve law and order.”
We didn’t set Onitsha Central Mosque ablaze – IPOB, MASSOB
Meanwhile, the agitating groups have disassociated themselves from acts of arson and violence that culminated in the razing down of Onitsha Central Mosque and burning of some vehicles.
MASSOB Acting Leader, Uchenna Madu, in a statement said: “The setting of Ontisha Central Mosque and vehicles ablaze and making of bonfires, which depict violence are not done by the members of IPOB or MASSOB under my leadership.
“This unwarranted acts of violence are perfected by hoodlums sponsored by agents of the Federal Government to create impression that non-violence and peaceful pro-Biafra groups have turned violent in our agitation for Biafra. Our oppressors are no longer comfortable. There is no evidence of terrorism in our protest. How can we resort to violence now that we’re told that the presidency is about negotiating with leaders of pro-Biafra group?
“With today’s killing of our members and injuring many with bullet shots,we are no longer comfortable with the presidency’s move for dialogue. Federal Government’s move for dialogue is hypocritical and deceitful. Any Igbo group, organization and persons negotiating, meeting or dialoguing with the presidency on our behalf without our consent or mandate should stop now.
“MASSOB led by Uchenna Madu and IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu have never mandated any person to negotiate for us. Even in this persecution, arrest, killings, clampdown, suppression against us by Nigeria Government, we shall continue and intensify our non-violence agitation for Biafra. For Nigeria to release their Armed Forces against non-violent, defenceless Biafra agitators shows their wickedness and the devilish mind of President Muhammad Buhari against our people.”
Don’t use force
Following the recent development, Igbo living in Niger State have urged the Federal Government not to use force on the agitators for Biafra but rather should dialogue with them in order not to further compound the insecurity that has already enveloped many parts of the country.
While suggeting dialogue as a means of settling the crisis which is daily building up across the country, the Niger State Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it is not in any way in support of any move that could lead to war in the country.
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Sam Ubiam, the first Nigerian national team goalkeeper has died at the age of 90.
Ibiam, who was born in 1925 in Ebonyi State was the Nigerian
goalkeeper for the UK selected team that toured the United Kingdom in
1949.
Family sources confirmed his death yesterday.
Below is an interview the late Pa Ibiam had with Vanguard’s Tope Adeboboye, published on February 3, 2010, where he bemoaned his plights of being abandoned by the Nigerian government, and was left to live in squalor.
Read:
Sam Ibiam. Ever heard of the name? He was Nigeria’s first ever national goalkeeper, the man who manned the post for the UK Tourists, Nigeria’s first national football team far back in the late 1940s. You might not have berthed on this planet when Pa Ibiam dazzled millions across the world with his magic hands. Nigeria did not even exist as a free country in those pre-independence days when Pa Ibiam and his fellow stars reigned among football-loving folks from Kakawa to Kaduna, from Calabar to Kaura Namoda to the United Kingdom.
But soccer lovers and indeed, followers of the round leather game would have learnt of the incredible exploits performed on the soccer field by members of the then UK Tourists. Those were the days the likes of Teslim Thunder Balogun, Dan Anyiam, Skipper Ewa Henshaw and other members of the team mesmerized with the ball before and shortly after the nation’s independence in 1960.
Pa Ibiam was among the 18 Nigerian footballers who embarked on a tour of England in August 1949.
As expected, virtually all of the boys of yesteryears have since passed on, and the only one remaining is now in the twilight of his days. Pa Ibiam is the last surviving member of that clan of sporting heroes.
At 85, you expect this great-grandfather of Nigerian goaltenders to be living a comfortable life, nestled comfortably in a cosy house, reaping the fruits of his hard labour.
You would have expected that the government he so faithfully served in his youthful years would come to his aid now that he is too old to work. But if you harbour such thoughts, you would be living in dreamland.
The bitter truth is that Pa Ibiam and many others who did the nation proud in their younger years have been cruelly abandoned to their fate by Nigeria at a time they can scarcely fend for themselves.
Some are luckier though. While Thunder Balogun and Dan Anyiam have
stadia named after them in their respective states of Lagos and Imo, Sam
Ibiam has no structure bearing his name either in his native state or
anywhere in Nigeria.
Pa Ibiam, known in his playing days as The Cat or The Black Magnet, now lives in a modest bungalow in his hometown, Unwana in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. It is in the house that the reporter, alongside Chief Jasper Okoro, the amiable editor-in-chief of National Standard, the Ebonyi State government owned newspaper, spends about ten minutes with the retired keeper this hot Thursday afternoon.
Locating Pa Ibiam’s home in Unwana will pose little problem for even the first time visitor. All you need do is mention his name and several people will offer to take you to the nondescript bungalow where the octogenarian ex-goaltender dwells.
Spotting a white sports jersey and shorts, the retired footballer is in his elements.
After welcoming his impromptu guests, Pa Ibiam invites you to his living room, a sparsely furnished apartment with several posters, calendars and glazed photographs adorning the wall.
Among the photographs are some black and whites where a much younger Sam Ibiam poses with his fellow team mates in the national team.The government might not have looked his way, but papa is a hero among his people.
The recognition is encouraging, at least by the people, the old man says in a voice packed full with verve and vitality. If you say by the people, you are right. But as for the government, there is no recognition. None at all.
In the mid and late 40s, Pa Ibiam was a consummate soccer player. He played professional football across the country and in Accra before he was invited to the Nigeria’s national team after participating in what was known then as the Governor’s Cup.
In our days, we played with pride and patriotism, he recalls with some nostalgia.
In those days, everyone played for pride, not for money. We were happy playing for our country unlike what is happening now.
But Pa Ibiam will not blame football players who demand for their due before they lace their boots for the country. They are learning from us because they know what we suffered for the country, he says.
We did all these things for the country with open minds. Unfortunately, the government didn’t care about us. So the boys who demand for money before they play for the country are only being smart.
They know it is whatever they get now that they will ever get from the government. As soon as they can’t play again, the government will abandon them. So, I don’t blame them.
In their heydays, there was a myth about one of Pa Ibiam’s compatriots, Teslim Thunder Balogun. Balogun was said to have once kicked a shot that tore through a goalkeeper’s tummy, with the ball forcefully escaping through the dead keeper’s open back. Pa Ibiam’s laugh is infectious as he dismisses the fallacy.
Don’t mind them. Nothing like that ever happened, he informs. Does he still watch football? Not often, he confesses.
“I lost interest because of the treatment given us. Since we stopped
playing, no government has deemed it fit to recognise what we did for
Nigeria. All that has more or less killed one’s interest in the game.
That is why I hardly watch soccer these days.
In 1986, the Rivers State government invited us because I played for Port Harcourt before. So the then Rivers State Commissioner for Sports invited their old players to Port Harcourt. That was when they were commissioning their new stadium in the city. That was all. A year later, the Sports Commission gave us honour in Lagos. All those sports men who had taken part in sports both in Nigeria and overseas were honoured. The late Chief MKO Abiola, state governors and many other important people were there. They promised us cars because they said that would enable us go to the stadium to watch matches. But even that promise was not fulfilled. And if you go to them to ask them to fulfill their promise, you would never see them and their aides would be making fun of you. That is why I lost interest.
At 85, many of Pa Ibiam’s compatriots would be frail and bent with age. But Pa Ibiam presents a refreshing difference. Not only is he strong and agile, the ex-footballer is also very alert mentally. What’s the secret of his healthy looks?
“It’s God, he says. I give God the glory for keeping me alive and blessing me with good health. And don’t forget this is Unwana. We eat a lot of fresh fish here.
But don’t ask the retired footballer to offer a word of advice for the Nigerian government on how to take care of the nation’s past heroes.
“Why should I advise them, he counters. Even you talking, I’m sure you know what the problem is and how to solve it. Everyone knows the right thing to do. I have no suggestions for them.”
Late Sam Ibiam (right) being interviewed by a journalist
Family sources confirmed his death yesterday.
Below is an interview the late Pa Ibiam had with Vanguard’s Tope Adeboboye, published on February 3, 2010, where he bemoaned his plights of being abandoned by the Nigerian government, and was left to live in squalor.
Read:
Sam Ibiam. Ever heard of the name? He was Nigeria’s first ever national goalkeeper, the man who manned the post for the UK Tourists, Nigeria’s first national football team far back in the late 1940s. You might not have berthed on this planet when Pa Ibiam dazzled millions across the world with his magic hands. Nigeria did not even exist as a free country in those pre-independence days when Pa Ibiam and his fellow stars reigned among football-loving folks from Kakawa to Kaduna, from Calabar to Kaura Namoda to the United Kingdom.
But soccer lovers and indeed, followers of the round leather game would have learnt of the incredible exploits performed on the soccer field by members of the then UK Tourists. Those were the days the likes of Teslim Thunder Balogun, Dan Anyiam, Skipper Ewa Henshaw and other members of the team mesmerized with the ball before and shortly after the nation’s independence in 1960.
Pa Ibiam was among the 18 Nigerian footballers who embarked on a tour of England in August 1949.
As expected, virtually all of the boys of yesteryears have since passed on, and the only one remaining is now in the twilight of his days. Pa Ibiam is the last surviving member of that clan of sporting heroes.
At 85, you expect this great-grandfather of Nigerian goaltenders to be living a comfortable life, nestled comfortably in a cosy house, reaping the fruits of his hard labour.
You would have expected that the government he so faithfully served in his youthful years would come to his aid now that he is too old to work. But if you harbour such thoughts, you would be living in dreamland.
The bitter truth is that Pa Ibiam and many others who did the nation proud in their younger years have been cruelly abandoned to their fate by Nigeria at a time they can scarcely fend for themselves.
Sam Ibiam in his hey days as Nigeria’s national team goal-tender
Pa Ibiam, known in his playing days as The Cat or The Black Magnet, now lives in a modest bungalow in his hometown, Unwana in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. It is in the house that the reporter, alongside Chief Jasper Okoro, the amiable editor-in-chief of National Standard, the Ebonyi State government owned newspaper, spends about ten minutes with the retired keeper this hot Thursday afternoon.
Locating Pa Ibiam’s home in Unwana will pose little problem for even the first time visitor. All you need do is mention his name and several people will offer to take you to the nondescript bungalow where the octogenarian ex-goaltender dwells.
Spotting a white sports jersey and shorts, the retired footballer is in his elements.
After welcoming his impromptu guests, Pa Ibiam invites you to his living room, a sparsely furnished apartment with several posters, calendars and glazed photographs adorning the wall.
Among the photographs are some black and whites where a much younger Sam Ibiam poses with his fellow team mates in the national team.The government might not have looked his way, but papa is a hero among his people.
The recognition is encouraging, at least by the people, the old man says in a voice packed full with verve and vitality. If you say by the people, you are right. But as for the government, there is no recognition. None at all.
In the mid and late 40s, Pa Ibiam was a consummate soccer player. He played professional football across the country and in Accra before he was invited to the Nigeria’s national team after participating in what was known then as the Governor’s Cup.
In our days, we played with pride and patriotism, he recalls with some nostalgia.
In those days, everyone played for pride, not for money. We were happy playing for our country unlike what is happening now.
But Pa Ibiam will not blame football players who demand for their due before they lace their boots for the country. They are learning from us because they know what we suffered for the country, he says.
We did all these things for the country with open minds. Unfortunately, the government didn’t care about us. So the boys who demand for money before they play for the country are only being smart.
They know it is whatever they get now that they will ever get from the government. As soon as they can’t play again, the government will abandon them. So, I don’t blame them.
In their heydays, there was a myth about one of Pa Ibiam’s compatriots, Teslim Thunder Balogun. Balogun was said to have once kicked a shot that tore through a goalkeeper’s tummy, with the ball forcefully escaping through the dead keeper’s open back. Pa Ibiam’s laugh is infectious as he dismisses the fallacy.
Don’t mind them. Nothing like that ever happened, he informs. Does he still watch football? Not often, he confesses.
Sam Ibiam in his hey days as Nigeria’s national team goal-tender
In 1986, the Rivers State government invited us because I played for Port Harcourt before. So the then Rivers State Commissioner for Sports invited their old players to Port Harcourt. That was when they were commissioning their new stadium in the city. That was all. A year later, the Sports Commission gave us honour in Lagos. All those sports men who had taken part in sports both in Nigeria and overseas were honoured. The late Chief MKO Abiola, state governors and many other important people were there. They promised us cars because they said that would enable us go to the stadium to watch matches. But even that promise was not fulfilled. And if you go to them to ask them to fulfill their promise, you would never see them and their aides would be making fun of you. That is why I lost interest.
At 85, many of Pa Ibiam’s compatriots would be frail and bent with age. But Pa Ibiam presents a refreshing difference. Not only is he strong and agile, the ex-footballer is also very alert mentally. What’s the secret of his healthy looks?
“It’s God, he says. I give God the glory for keeping me alive and blessing me with good health. And don’t forget this is Unwana. We eat a lot of fresh fish here.
But don’t ask the retired footballer to offer a word of advice for the Nigerian government on how to take care of the nation’s past heroes.
“Why should I advise them, he counters. Even you talking, I’m sure you know what the problem is and how to solve it. Everyone knows the right thing to do. I have no suggestions for them.”
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…Protesters besiege court, demands his unconditional release
DSS secures fresh order to detain him for 90 days
More protests sweep Abuja, Onitsha, Aba as IPOB members ground vehicular movements
Hoist Kanu’s portraits, Biafra emblems in Aba
We are not in support of any violence – Anglican Church
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon, Caleb Ayansina, Okonkwo Nwabueze, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi & Ugochukwu Alaribe
Hundreds of agitators for the creation of Biafra Republic, yesterday, besieged an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, demanding the unconditional release of the self-declared leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The placard carrying protesters, who wore T-shirts and caps with inscriptions like “Biafra Now or Never”, “Buhari Release Kanu For Us”, “On Biafra We Stand”, yesterday, sang and danced outside the court premises, while hearing was going on in the criminal case that was entered against Kanu by the federal government.
Meantime, following an order of the court, the Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday, produced the detained Director of Radio Biafra and Television, Kanu.
Chief Magistrate Shauibu Usman had at the last adjourned date, berated the DSS over its failure to produce Kanu in court on two consecutive times the matter came up before the court.
Magistrate
Usman said he was disappointed that the security agency refused to
produce Kanu despite an express order of the court.
Consequently, he directed that the accused person must be brought before the court yesterday.
Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, Kanu, who the government accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society, as well as indulging in criminal intimidation, contrary to section 97 (a)&(b) and section 397 of the Penal Code, begged to be transferred to prison custody.
His lawyer, Mr. Vincent Egechukwu Obeta, insisted that transferring his client to prison would enable him to have easy access to his legal team.
Obeta made the application shortly after the DSS, yesterday, urged the Magistrate Court to hands-off Kanu’s trial.
The DSS, through its lawyer, Mr Moses Idakwo, told the court that it has already secured an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to further detain Kanu for another 90 days.
It said that the order which was granted by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, was to enable the government to conclude investigation into an allegation that Kanu was involved in terrorism financing.
Consequently, the DSS, yesterday, applied to withdraw the initial First Information Report, FIR, it lodged against Kanu before the Chief Magistrate Court.
The agency maintained that the government would file a fresh charge against Kanu before a higher court, once its ongoing investigation is concluded.
Idakwo therefore asked Magistrate Usman to step down from the trial on the ground that his court lacks the power and jurisdiction to prosecute terrorism charges.
The application was vehemently opposed by Kanu’s lawyer Obeta, who insisted that the bail earlier granted the accused person must firstly be complied with before any application for transfer of the case to a federal high court could be entertained.
After listening to both parties, Magistrate Usman adjourned the case till December 1 for ruling.
Kanu who was brought to court yesterday under heavy security, was on October 17, picked up in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
He had On October 19, pleaded not guilty to the FIR that was filed against him by the Nigerian government, and was subsequently granted him bail to the tune of N2million.
The court further directed the defendant to produce a civil servant of Grade Level 16, to stand as his surety.
However, following allegation that the DSS, refused to release the accused person after he had perfected the bail conditions, the Magistrate, in a ruling on October 23, ordered that he should be brought to court on November 18, an order that was not complied with.
Magistrate Usman insisted that no trial could continue in a criminal case in the absence of the accused, saying the only condition that could make a court to excuse the absence of an accused had not arisen.
He therefore ordered the DSS to ensure the presence of the defendant in court yesterday.
Specifically, Kanu, is standing trial on criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to Section 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.
The fact of the case, according to DSS report was that the accused formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.
He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established a radio of Biafra.
Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences of the government and people of Nigeria will surfer should they attempt hinder the actualization of the Republic of Biafra.
IPOB members ground vehicular movements
In the South East states, the agitation for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government continued yesterday as members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, numbering over 15,000, dared the military and protested in Onitsha the commercial city of Anambra State, marching in over 18 batches of about two thousand people per batch, and grounding vehicular movements in the ever busy Onitsha Enugu express way for over one and half hours.
Known for their peaceful and non violence agitation, the protesting
IPOB members marched from Niger Bridge head entry into Anambra State,
where the plaque of former Biafran warlord, late Dim Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu was built, to Naval outpost, Atani Road Ogbaru Local
Government Area, and back to Uga Junction, where they again joined the
Onitsha, Asaba Enugu Express way, down to Upper Iweka flyover.
At the Upper Iweka flyover bridge, they danced for about 30minutes and grounded vehicular movements before their leaders directed that they should allow the vehicles to move but slowly.
Wielding placards with inscriptions as “Nigeria is a lawless land, and a terrorist state,” “Biafra is a Nation not a society,” “Free innocent man, Nnamdi Kanu or there will be no peace” “Freeinnocent man Nnamdi Kanu, he did not do anything wrong”, “No Biafra no peace”, including others derogatory inscriptions on their placards against the government, the protesting IPOB members marched towards Zik’s roundabout and military cantonment Onitsha.
On their march towards Zik’s roundabout, they stopped in front of the Onitsha military cantonment along the Onitsha Enugu Express way, danced for about 20 minutes, chanting anti Federal and Anambra state government and military songs, demanding for the release of the incarcerated Kanu who they warn that if anything happens to him, they will make Nigeria ungovernable, before they left for Ziks Roundabout.
At Ziks roundabout named after the late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, which is incidentally directly opposite the Onosi Onira retreat, home of the late first Nigerian president, they stopped and paid homage to Ziks plaque built at the roundabout, and addressed newsmen.
According to their spokesmen, who gave his name as Emma Powerful and Sunday Igbokaenyi, from Okija, IPOB wondered why Mr. Kanu should still be in detention after the court has granted him bail, they alleged that ban has been place on all the imported goods the Igbo are major importers to humilate them, adding that IPOB is a non violent group and should not be treated like criminals, when Federal Government is petting the Boko Haram members.
While Mr. Powerful said their protest is in continuation of their agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra and release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and to tell the Federal Government that no amount of threat from the Military will stop them until their objectives are achieved.
Hoist Kanu’s portraits, Biafra emblems in Aba
While the Onitsha protest was still ongoing, over 20,000 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, also yesterday embarked on another protest march in Aba, Abia state, where they hoisted Biafra emblems and Nnamdi Kanu’s portraits across billboards and other high-rise structures across the city.
As the protesters grew in number, it was a major difference from past protests as all the markets in the city including the Ariaria International, Cemetery and Ahia Ohuu markets were open for business. Vanguard observed that shop owners along Azikiwe road hurriedly shut their shops to avoid the wrath of the protesters.
Recall that the Police in Aba led by the Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara, had last week, went round the city and removed Biafra emblems mounted at strategic points and high rise.
DSS secures fresh order to detain him for 90 days
More protests sweep Abuja, Onitsha, Aba as IPOB members ground vehicular movements
Hoist Kanu’s portraits, Biafra emblems in Aba
We are not in support of any violence – Anglican Church
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Dapo Akinrefon, Caleb Ayansina, Okonkwo Nwabueze, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi & Ugochukwu Alaribe
Hundreds of agitators for the creation of Biafra Republic, yesterday, besieged an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, demanding the unconditional release of the self-declared leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The placard carrying protesters, who wore T-shirts and caps with inscriptions like “Biafra Now or Never”, “Buhari Release Kanu For Us”, “On Biafra We Stand”, yesterday, sang and danced outside the court premises, while hearing was going on in the criminal case that was entered against Kanu by the federal government.
Meantime, following an order of the court, the Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday, produced the detained Director of Radio Biafra and Television, Kanu.
Chief Magistrate Shauibu Usman had at the last adjourned date, berated the DSS over its failure to produce Kanu in court on two consecutive times the matter came up before the court.
Magistrate
Usman said he was disappointed that the security agency refused to
produce Kanu despite an express order of the court.Consequently, he directed that the accused person must be brought before the court yesterday.
Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, Kanu, who the government accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society, as well as indulging in criminal intimidation, contrary to section 97 (a)&(b) and section 397 of the Penal Code, begged to be transferred to prison custody.
His lawyer, Mr. Vincent Egechukwu Obeta, insisted that transferring his client to prison would enable him to have easy access to his legal team.
Obeta made the application shortly after the DSS, yesterday, urged the Magistrate Court to hands-off Kanu’s trial.
The DSS, through its lawyer, Mr Moses Idakwo, told the court that it has already secured an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to further detain Kanu for another 90 days.
It said that the order which was granted by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, was to enable the government to conclude investigation into an allegation that Kanu was involved in terrorism financing.
Consequently, the DSS, yesterday, applied to withdraw the initial First Information Report, FIR, it lodged against Kanu before the Chief Magistrate Court.
The agency maintained that the government would file a fresh charge against Kanu before a higher court, once its ongoing investigation is concluded.
Idakwo therefore asked Magistrate Usman to step down from the trial on the ground that his court lacks the power and jurisdiction to prosecute terrorism charges.
The application was vehemently opposed by Kanu’s lawyer Obeta, who insisted that the bail earlier granted the accused person must firstly be complied with before any application for transfer of the case to a federal high court could be entertained.
Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, sandwiched between security operaives, leaving the court yesterday in Abuja.
Kanu who was brought to court yesterday under heavy security, was on October 17, picked up in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
He had On October 19, pleaded not guilty to the FIR that was filed against him by the Nigerian government, and was subsequently granted him bail to the tune of N2million.
The court further directed the defendant to produce a civil servant of Grade Level 16, to stand as his surety.
However, following allegation that the DSS, refused to release the accused person after he had perfected the bail conditions, the Magistrate, in a ruling on October 23, ordered that he should be brought to court on November 18, an order that was not complied with.
Magistrate Usman insisted that no trial could continue in a criminal case in the absence of the accused, saying the only condition that could make a court to excuse the absence of an accused had not arisen.
He therefore ordered the DSS to ensure the presence of the defendant in court yesterday.
Specifically, Kanu, is standing trial on criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to Section 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.
The fact of the case, according to DSS report was that the accused formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.
He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established a radio of Biafra.
Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences of the government and people of Nigeria will surfer should they attempt hinder the actualization of the Republic of Biafra.
IPOB members ground vehicular movements
In the South East states, the agitation for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government continued yesterday as members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, numbering over 15,000, dared the military and protested in Onitsha the commercial city of Anambra State, marching in over 18 batches of about two thousand people per batch, and grounding vehicular movements in the ever busy Onitsha Enugu express way for over one and half hours.
Supporters
of Nnamdi Kanu stormed Abuja on Monday, November 23, 2015, in a
solidarity protest for their leader who was arraigned in Wuse Zone 2
Magistrate Court, Abuja
At the Upper Iweka flyover bridge, they danced for about 30minutes and grounded vehicular movements before their leaders directed that they should allow the vehicles to move but slowly.
Wielding placards with inscriptions as “Nigeria is a lawless land, and a terrorist state,” “Biafra is a Nation not a society,” “Free innocent man, Nnamdi Kanu or there will be no peace” “Freeinnocent man Nnamdi Kanu, he did not do anything wrong”, “No Biafra no peace”, including others derogatory inscriptions on their placards against the government, the protesting IPOB members marched towards Zik’s roundabout and military cantonment Onitsha.
On their march towards Zik’s roundabout, they stopped in front of the Onitsha military cantonment along the Onitsha Enugu Express way, danced for about 20 minutes, chanting anti Federal and Anambra state government and military songs, demanding for the release of the incarcerated Kanu who they warn that if anything happens to him, they will make Nigeria ungovernable, before they left for Ziks Roundabout.
At Ziks roundabout named after the late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, which is incidentally directly opposite the Onosi Onira retreat, home of the late first Nigerian president, they stopped and paid homage to Ziks plaque built at the roundabout, and addressed newsmen.
According to their spokesmen, who gave his name as Emma Powerful and Sunday Igbokaenyi, from Okija, IPOB wondered why Mr. Kanu should still be in detention after the court has granted him bail, they alleged that ban has been place on all the imported goods the Igbo are major importers to humilate them, adding that IPOB is a non violent group and should not be treated like criminals, when Federal Government is petting the Boko Haram members.
While Mr. Powerful said their protest is in continuation of their agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra and release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and to tell the Federal Government that no amount of threat from the Military will stop them until their objectives are achieved.
Hoist Kanu’s portraits, Biafra emblems in Aba
While the Onitsha protest was still ongoing, over 20,000 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, also yesterday embarked on another protest march in Aba, Abia state, where they hoisted Biafra emblems and Nnamdi Kanu’s portraits across billboards and other high-rise structures across the city.
As the protesters grew in number, it was a major difference from past protests as all the markets in the city including the Ariaria International, Cemetery and Ahia Ohuu markets were open for business. Vanguard observed that shop owners along Azikiwe road hurriedly shut their shops to avoid the wrath of the protesters.
Recall that the Police in Aba led by the Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara, had last week, went round the city and removed Biafra emblems mounted at strategic points and high rise.
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1:06:00 PM
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Dear Julie,
My husband and I enjoy lovemaking a lot and it’s one thing that keeps our relationship going despite having three children. My man respects me for that and has never cheated for as long as I could remember.
But lately, sex has been really painful and not as enjoyable as it used to. On many occasions, I turned down my husband and he doesn’t feel good about this. Does this mean that something is wrong?
Seigha, Port-Harcourt
Dear Seigha,
Something is wrong. Painful intercourse has many causes. In men, it can be caused by an infection, an allergic reaction to spermicide or latex, or by an irritation from previous sexual or non-sexual activities.
In women, the causes are more varied and complex: There may be vaginal dryness, which could be caused in two ways. It could be that a woman is not aroused enough to lubricate because there has not been enough foreplay before penetration. Or, she may not have enough of the hormone estrogen in her system to create lubrication. This type of vaginal dryness is often associated with perimenopause or menopause. Other physical causes include endometriosis, infection, yeast overgrowth, or allergic reaction to latex or spermicide.
Emotional causes of painful intercourse for women include gender identity conflict, a history of rape or incest, or intense childhood suppression of sex, all of which can lead to vaginal spasms that prevent penetration. Other emotional causes include hostility, anger, or resentment toward her partner or previous partners.
Because painful intercourse has so many possible causes, it is best to consult a health care professional to determine the cause and get the best treatment. Men may want to consult a urologist. Women may want to consult a women’s health care provider.
My husband and I enjoy lovemaking a lot and it’s one thing that keeps our relationship going despite having three children. My man respects me for that and has never cheated for as long as I could remember.
But lately, sex has been really painful and not as enjoyable as it used to. On many occasions, I turned down my husband and he doesn’t feel good about this. Does this mean that something is wrong?
Seigha, Port-Harcourt
Dear Seigha,
Something is wrong. Painful intercourse has many causes. In men, it can be caused by an infection, an allergic reaction to spermicide or latex, or by an irritation from previous sexual or non-sexual activities.
In women, the causes are more varied and complex: There may be vaginal dryness, which could be caused in two ways. It could be that a woman is not aroused enough to lubricate because there has not been enough foreplay before penetration. Or, she may not have enough of the hormone estrogen in her system to create lubrication. This type of vaginal dryness is often associated with perimenopause or menopause. Other physical causes include endometriosis, infection, yeast overgrowth, or allergic reaction to latex or spermicide.
Emotional causes of painful intercourse for women include gender identity conflict, a history of rape or incest, or intense childhood suppression of sex, all of which can lead to vaginal spasms that prevent penetration. Other emotional causes include hostility, anger, or resentment toward her partner or previous partners.
Because painful intercourse has so many possible causes, it is best to consult a health care professional to determine the cause and get the best treatment. Men may want to consult a urologist. Women may want to consult a women’s health care provider.
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12:37:00 PM
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admin
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By Emmanuel Elebeke
The British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright, says one of UK’s key objective for Nigeria this year is to support the ongoing campaign against Cybercrime to reduce the number of UK citizens and businesses falling victim to fraud and cyber crime originating in Nigeria.
Arkwright disclosed this on Wednesday, at the ongoing Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) and Ministry of Communications two day workshop on cybercrime holding in Abuja.
As a leading ICT nation, he stated that the UK launched the Cyber security capacity building programme which supports transformational projects around the world that has an effect on reducing cyber threats, which he said had had many noteworthy achievements.
‘‘The UK government recognized that this could only happen if there
are adequate legal and institutional structures in place to help respond
to the challenges being posed by cyber criminals.
‘‘This too must meet international standards such as outlined in the Budapest Convention on Cyber security to drive cross country cooperation which is necessary to address cybercrime.’’
In addition to its drive, he noted that the UK government also supported the relevant agencies in Nigeria to see the passage of the Cybercrime Act 2015 between 2013 and 2014.
He applaud the Nigerian government for the passage of the Cybercrime Act 2015, he called for effective response to cybercrime through robust network security including appropriate network architecture and software; cybersecurity awareness; co-operative arrangements between law enforcement and communication service providers and a criminal justice system that facilitates the efficient prosecution of cases of cybercrime.
‘‘While tackling Cybercrime remains an enormous challenge that requires the engagement of a range of stakeholders, we can build coalitions and take steps that can reduce the scope and scale of cybercrime,’’ he added.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of Common Wealth Telecommunication Organization (CTO), Engr. Shola Taylor said Nigeria remains a major force to be reckoned with in terms of cybersecurity plans with unique opportunities to drive the campaign against cybercrime.
He promised to collaborate with Nigerian government and all relevant agencies to tackle the menace of cybercrime in the country.
In his speech, the Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, said the new post-modern realities of ICT and cyberspace have extended the frontiers of living space from physical space into cyberspace.
According to him, the workshop was designed to find all the means to draw experience from global community, who have experienced it and utilized modern solutions and to identify various modes of committing crime in cyber space and evolve answers to them.
On the MTN fine, the Minister said that the MTN had tendered an apology and requested for leniency, which is now waiting for Presidential action.
‘‘When the crimes got committed, this government had not even come into place. The previous government looked the other way. Immediately the new NCC EVC came on board, he decided to apply the appropriate regulations.
‘‘It’s like you have a court judgement, once a pronouncement is made, unless it is reviewed, it remains a valid judgement. There is an appeal to the President but the President is yet to take a decision. So, Nigerians must await for the decision of the President on the matter.’’
On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the Commission in conjunction with the ITU, will be establishing a cybercrime centre in Nigeria soon, saying that necessary regulation that will enable the execution was being fine-tuned, consistent with the enabling Act and other issues being considered.
Still on the MTN, fine he said, ‘‘It is still receiving attention. Deadline has expired but we have written to them to acknowledge the letter they wrote to the commission in which they admitted committing the bridge.
‘‘In the letter, there is a undertaken for good regulatory behavior and apology to the Nigerian people as well as solicitation for leniency on the fine, that is why it is receiving attention.’’
The British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright, says one of UK’s key objective for Nigeria this year is to support the ongoing campaign against Cybercrime to reduce the number of UK citizens and businesses falling victim to fraud and cyber crime originating in Nigeria.
Arkwright disclosed this on Wednesday, at the ongoing Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) and Ministry of Communications two day workshop on cybercrime holding in Abuja.
As a leading ICT nation, he stated that the UK launched the Cyber security capacity building programme which supports transformational projects around the world that has an effect on reducing cyber threats, which he said had had many noteworthy achievements.
Cyber Crime
‘‘This too must meet international standards such as outlined in the Budapest Convention on Cyber security to drive cross country cooperation which is necessary to address cybercrime.’’
In addition to its drive, he noted that the UK government also supported the relevant agencies in Nigeria to see the passage of the Cybercrime Act 2015 between 2013 and 2014.
He applaud the Nigerian government for the passage of the Cybercrime Act 2015, he called for effective response to cybercrime through robust network security including appropriate network architecture and software; cybersecurity awareness; co-operative arrangements between law enforcement and communication service providers and a criminal justice system that facilitates the efficient prosecution of cases of cybercrime.
‘‘While tackling Cybercrime remains an enormous challenge that requires the engagement of a range of stakeholders, we can build coalitions and take steps that can reduce the scope and scale of cybercrime,’’ he added.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of Common Wealth Telecommunication Organization (CTO), Engr. Shola Taylor said Nigeria remains a major force to be reckoned with in terms of cybersecurity plans with unique opportunities to drive the campaign against cybercrime.
He promised to collaborate with Nigerian government and all relevant agencies to tackle the menace of cybercrime in the country.
In his speech, the Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, said the new post-modern realities of ICT and cyberspace have extended the frontiers of living space from physical space into cyberspace.
According to him, the workshop was designed to find all the means to draw experience from global community, who have experienced it and utilized modern solutions and to identify various modes of committing crime in cyber space and evolve answers to them.
On the MTN fine, the Minister said that the MTN had tendered an apology and requested for leniency, which is now waiting for Presidential action.
‘‘When the crimes got committed, this government had not even come into place. The previous government looked the other way. Immediately the new NCC EVC came on board, he decided to apply the appropriate regulations.
‘‘It’s like you have a court judgement, once a pronouncement is made, unless it is reviewed, it remains a valid judgement. There is an appeal to the President but the President is yet to take a decision. So, Nigerians must await for the decision of the President on the matter.’’
On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the Commission in conjunction with the ITU, will be establishing a cybercrime centre in Nigeria soon, saying that necessary regulation that will enable the execution was being fine-tuned, consistent with the enabling Act and other issues being considered.
Still on the MTN, fine he said, ‘‘It is still receiving attention. Deadline has expired but we have written to them to acknowledge the letter they wrote to the commission in which they admitted committing the bridge.
‘‘In the letter, there is a undertaken for good regulatory behavior and apology to the Nigerian people as well as solicitation for leniency on the fine, that is why it is receiving attention.’’
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